UFC 249 results, highlights: Justin Gaethje upsets Tony Ferguson to claim interim lightweight title
‘The Highlight’ lived up to his name in stopping one of the toughest fighters the sport has ever seen.
After Tony Ferguson’s planned UFC 249 fight with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov fell apart, fans were given the ultimate consolation prize: an interim title fight between Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Gaethje took full advantage of the opportunity, battering Ferguson over five rounds of action before scoring a late TKO to collect a championship belt at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Both men started Round 1 with a cautious approach before Gaethje (22-2) began throwing massive, winging punches in between heavy leg kicks. Never one to back down from a fight, Ferguson (25-4) began to fire back with a nearly mirrored attack, though it was Ferguson’s chin getting the biggest test in the early stages of the fight.
The left hook of Gaethje continued to land with significant impact into Round 2, but he stuck to the plan of landing sharp leg kicks to keep Ferguson from getting into a comfortable rhythm. Ferguson turned up his offensive output down the stretch of the second round only to be cut off again by leg kicks and heavy Gaethje punches. In the final seconds of the round, Ferguson dropped Gaethje with a massive uppercut that could have ended the fight had Gaethje not been saved by the bell.
Gaethje recovered from the knockdown heading into the third round, landing more heavy punches and cutting Ferguson, causing significant swelling around his left eye. Still, Ferguson’s relentless march forward continued, landing sporadically in between the massive bombs of Gaethje.
In Round 4, the stone jaw of Ferguson finally started to crack. For the first time, Ferguson’s legs buckled after another Gaethje right hand. Moments later, Ferguson was back in front of Gaethje, digging to the body and throwing left hooks to the head.