I went from full-time nurse to TikTok star – now I’m fighting a UFC legend and will be the next Jake Paul

Nathaniel Bustamante, more commonly known by his alias Salt Papi, has been on a wild journey over the past three years.

The 31-year-old Philippines-born Briton has surged to the summit of social media stardom since walking away from his job as a full-time nurse just a few years ago.

Misfits Boxing

Now, he finds himself front and centre on one of Misfits Boxing’s biggest cards to date.

The KSI-owned promotion has played a pivotal role in growing the crossover scene inside the squared circle and returns for an event inside Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday night.

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold enters the ring for the first time to face fellow ex-MMA star Darren Till in the main event.

Who is Salt Papi fighting at Misfits 22?

Salt Papi, meanwhile, steps into the co-main event against none other than former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who has fought a who’s who of combat sport legends, such as Nate Diaz and Charles Oliveira to name a few.

“Three years ago, I was working as a nurse full-time, making dance TikTok videos on the side,” Salt Papi told talkSPORT.com, speaking on his meteoric rise.

“And then suddenly I’m fighting Tony Ferguson. I’m going to be sharing the ring with a legendary fighter, and I can’t wait to put on a show.”

Salt Papi impressed boxing’s biggest names when he first entered the squared circle by scoring some wild knockouts as a man made famous from ‘fake running’ videos online.

A proud Filipino, he grew up idolising Manny Pacquiao, and was left speechless when ‘Pac Man’ followed him back on Instagram after his debut win in 2022.

Pacquiao made a controversial, yet incredibly successful, return to the ring last month, when he boxed to a majority draw with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the age of 46.

Many boxing fans had been left concerned about the health of the Filipino veteran heading into the bout, but ‘Pac Man’ proved his doubters overwhelmingly wrong.

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Salt Papi told talkSPORT.com that he believes Pacquiao won the fight, and his idol’s comeback served as a stark reminder that his 41-year-old opponent, Ferguson, can’t be underestimated.

“I grew up watching Manny Pacquiao boxing, and he’s an inspiration to me because he helps a lot of people outside boxing,” he explained.

“That’s something I want to do in the future too… I think he won [against Barrios] — at 46 years old!

“So, these people commenting on my videos that I’m going to knock out Tony Ferguson. They say, ‘Please don’t give him brain damage. He’s had enough,’ but this guy is going to try and knock me out.”

Despite the resume of an MMA veteran like Ferguson, Salt Papi is confident that speed, agility, and power can prevail in his seventh boxing bout on Saturday night.

“He’s going to have to catch me,” Salt Papi added. “[His experience] worries me, but I signed up for it. Here we are.

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“If I win against Tony Ferguson, this could just lead me to having bigger fights, better opportunities, and I’m going to be ready for the next challenge. I’m going to be the next Jake Paul.”

Paul is currently riding a wave of being one of boxing’s biggest stars, having become an incredibly marketable name in the sport.

His early fights with the likes of MMA fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva have set up a lucrative boxing career, with all types of boxers wanting to get their hands on the young American star.

The 28-year-old shocked many of boxing’s biggest personalities when the WBA ranked him 14th at cruiserweight following his latest victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the beginning of July.

That fight came after ‘The Problem Child’ made tens of millions of dollars through fighting a 58-year-old Mike Tyson.

Paul now finds himself preparing for a wild exhibition bout with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, which goes down in November.

It’s clear he has influenced crossover boxers like Salt Papi, who senses a real financial opportunity in the ring going forward.

“I guess the money. I’m not going to lie,” Salt Papi admitted, speaking on his biggest motivations in the sport.

“The money is motivating me. I’m just taking every opportunity I have while I’m young.

“Because when I get older, I can always go back to social media or nursing, do whatever.

“But right now, I’m just taking everything as it comes. Going with the flow.

“I’m going to be the main man now.”

With Ferguson at the forefront of his mind right now, Salt Papi has already envisioned how the pair’s fight might end.

His prediction: a one-punch KO to finish the fight.