Ferguson Drops Spencer in Dubai to Take Misfits Middleweight Gold

Tony Ferguson beat Warren Spencer by unanimous decision at the "Fight Before Christmas" card in Dubai and became the undisputed Misfits middleweight champion. The scores were 49-45, 49-45 and 48-46. It was the second time the former UFC interim champion had competed as a boxer.

Ferguson had won the interim title earlier in the year, when he beat "Salt Papi" in August. That was his first win in years, after he finished his UFC run on an eight-fight skid against top competition. Spencer had more boxing experience on paper: he was 2-0 as a pro, with a handful of exhibition bouts. Ferguson, though, had far more combat experience overall.

A knockdown and a taunt

Near the end of round one, Ferguson began finding a home for his right hand. His left connected again in the second. Spencer briefly stood and traded, but mostly he was retreating, and when Ferguson began unloading, the referee paused the bout to the displeasure of fans. On the restart Ferguson dropped Spencer, then got in his face and taunted him. A "Tony" chant rose in the arena. Spencer complained about blows to the back of the head.

Ferguson opened round three with a left and kept Spencer on the retreat. He briefly trapped him in the corner, though Spencer later came off the ropes with a firefight in which both men landed.

Spencer started round four with a big left, followed by a couple of shots that landed. Ferguson answered by walking him down, but when Ferguson dropped his hands Spencer tagged him upstairs and took the round.

A lost tooth in the last round

Ferguson was coming forward again in the final round. With a minute and a half left, Spencer lost his mouthpiece and, apparently, a tooth along with it. Spencer slipped late in the round and lost time, and Ferguson tagged him before the final bell, with only the ropes keeping Spencer from a second knockdown.

Source: Cageside Press