Tony Ferguson defends Misfits Boxing middleweight title with second-round knockout of Mahmood Sebie

Tony Ferguson's boxing career continued its upward trajectory on Saturday at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, where the former UFC interim lightweight champion successfully defended his Misfits Boxing middleweight title against Mahmood Sebie in the co-main event of a card headlined by Henry Cejudo's Misfits debut.

Ferguson was originally slated to defend against former soccer player Kenzo Biyong, but when Biyong withdrew days before the event, Sebie—an Olympic wrestler and MMA veteran—stepped in as a replacement. Ferguson dominated the opening round, using relentless pressure and a sharp jab to control the action before nearly finishing Sebie with a right hand that sent him to the canvas. Sebie survived the count and returned for Round 2, where he briefly hurt Ferguson and put "El Cucuy" on his heels. However, Ferguson regrouped, cornered Sebie, and unloaded a barrage of punches until the referee intervened with the stoppage in the second round.

After the fight, Ferguson was candid about his performance, acknowledging he was not at his best. He revealed that his mother's recent passing—just a couple of months prior—had left him in a dreamlike, dazed state during the bout. When Austin McBroom, who stepped into the ring to propose a title fight, said he "didn't know what he watched," Ferguson agreed, noting the emotional toll he was carrying. Despite the circumstances, Ferguson's title defense adds another chapter to what has become a compelling second act in combat sports for the former UFC star.