Justin Gaethje stunned the mixed martial arts world on Satuerday night after dominating the heavily-favoured Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249.
Gaethje and Ferguson tussled at the UFC 249 card’s headliner in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday with the interim lightweight title up for grabs.
The 36-year old American was originally booked for the much-awaited title clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov but the defending champion was stuck in Russia, which forced the promotion to look for a replacement for the card’s headlining event.
Undefeated in the last 12 fights, ‘El Cucuy’ holds the longest and most active winning streak at 155-pounds, with notable wins against Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, Kevin Lee, Rafael Dos Anjos, and many others.
Coming off three-straight wins, Gaethje has been campaigning for a money fight against Conor McGregor but has now earned his shot at a UFC gold as he fights Ferguson on short notice for the interim title.
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1259349212610863104
Massive Upset
The lightweight pair treated MMA fans to an instant classic but it was Gaethje who had the upperhand in five rounds to eke out one of the biggest upsets in the UFC this year.
Gaethje’s stand-up game was just too much for Ferguson and the referee needed to stop the fight in the fifth round after he landed a huge hook on Ferguson.
With the win, ‘The Highlight’ has captured the interim lightweight title, which will set him up to a unification bout with reigning champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Watch the highlights below:
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1259343331307458560
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1259344555624804352
If this was anybody other than @TonyFergusonXT, you wouldn't believe it… #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/bH9JW8rsH5
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1259347905552551942
UFC 249 Fight Card Full Results:
Justin Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson via fifth-round technical knockout
Henry Cejudo def. Dominick Cruz via second-round technical knockout
Francis Ngannou def. Jair Rozenstruik via first-round knockout
Calvin Kattar def. Jeremy Stephens via second-round knockout (elbow)
Greg Hardy def. Yorgan de Castro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Anthony Pettis def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Aleksei Oleinik def. Fabricio Werdum via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Carla Esparza def. Michelle Waterson via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
Vicente Luque def. Niko Price via third-round TKO (doctor stoppage)
Bryce Mitchell def. Charles Rosa via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-24)
Ryan Spann def. Sam Alvey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
(Featured Image Source: Twitter/ ESPN MMA)