JUSTIN GAETHJE IS the new interim UFC lightweight champion after overcoming Tony Ferguson in a five-round classic at UFC 249.
Held amid strict hygiene guidelines in a near-empty arena in Jacksonville, Florida, the event marked the first UFC broadcast since March 7.
Unaffected by the lack of an audience, the main event was a thrilling bout that saw defending-champion Ferguson battered by Gaethje for almost 25 minutes before the punishment finally became too much.
Gaethje’s fifth-round TKO victory brings Ferguson’s dominant 12-fight win-streak to an exhilarating end while also diminishing any hopes of the superfight between Ferguson and reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov taking place any time soon.
🗣️ "There's no other challenge I want right now. I want to fight him."
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
🏆 @Justin_Gaethje is READY to unify against Khabib! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/I4IfNWKjQU
Earlier, bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo defended his title with an emphatic second-round TKO victory against Dominick Cruz before announcing his shock retirement during the post-fight interview.
Other highlights from the event included Francis Ngannou knocking out Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds and Anthony Pettis edging out fellow-veteran Donald Cerrone in a gruelling battle.
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Gaethje v khabib v mcgregor triple threat ladder match
Ref bad stoppage with Cruz v Cejudo. When Cruz was down, none connected and he was only trying to get up.
@Clubhouse Barman.: I’m also sceptical of the stoppage, but cejudo 100% connected with multiple shots when Cruz was down.
Ngannou’s punch power is ridiculous, the ufcs Deontay Wilder absolute windmill.
I hope gaethje knocks khabibs head off khabib will prob hav a excuse not to fight him shud b a cracker as gaethje is a great wrestler aswell so he shud compete with khabibs ground game
Tony Ferguson wasn’t the defending champion. Khabib is the champ at 155. Does nobody proof read these articles??
@Brendan flynn: ufc pretty much has two belts in each division now with the amount of ‘interim’ belts they hand out to make main events seem more meaningful.
@JC: interim titles are ridiculous. Delighted to see Gaethje throw his away when he was talking to Joe Rogan
@Brendan flynn: what are you on about? It’s the interim title and he was defending it. Do you proof read your comments ?
@Correct Opinion: I think what he’s saying is that interim title is a load of shyte….which it is.
@Correct Opinion: what are you on about? Ferguson won the interim title before but he was stripped of it. There was no interim champ going in to last nights fight. Do some research!
Well, it looks like Khabib did it, he managed to duck the only fighter in the division with a ground game.
@Sean Fahey: Gaethje’s wrestling background is no joke. Khabib will obviously be the comfortable favourite but if Just can keep the fight in the centre of the octagon he 100% has a chance to win.
@Darren: *Justin
@Sean Fahey: he’ll have his work cut out to beat gaethje. He looked amazing last night. Can’t wait to see how it plays out when it goes to the ground, gaethje is a super wrestler
@Sean Fahey: Jesus Sean, fancy meeting you here. You were condemning all those involved in the comments section of an article before the fight.
Great main card, JG is a beast, have to feel for Tony.
Barbaric sport.
Serious card. No poor fight. Guys looked like they were venting frustrations with the amount of huge shots thrown. Henry leaving opens 2 divisions. Still think Tony should get first crack at Kabib, age isn’t on his side, a Justin -McGregor fight would be top billing on any card and a serious PPV draw.