UFC 249: Justin Gaethje beats Tony Ferguson and leaves him with horrific facial injuries to win lightweight title
JUSTIN GAETHJE pulled off an upset at UFC 249 to win the interim lightweight title over favourite Tony Ferguson.
With Khabib Nurmagomedov unable to defend his belt amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ferguson was once again denied his shot at the unbeaten Russian.
But the 36-year-old American failed at the final hurdle as he was outfought and dominated against underdog Gaethje, who scored a stunning fifth round stoppage.
Despite winning his first UFC title, Gaethje refused to wear the belt, saying after the fight: “I am waiting for the real one.
“There is no better job on earth that this but it is each day at a time.
“I had to lose to change and once I understood I was getting hit too much I improved.
“I want to fight Khabib, there is no other fight I want right now.”
From the opening bell Ferguson and Gaethje traded punches, but it was clear the late replacement was the sharper of the pair.
Gaethje’s left hook could not miss as Ferguson had no answer, and struggled to find his trademark rhythm.
The second was a more dominant round for Gaethje, who teed off on his opponent, countering with ease and establishing early dominance through expert boxing.
But Ferguson reminded fans why he was on a 12-fight win streak as he dropped his opponent with a perfectly timed and executed uppercut to close out a round he was second best in throughout.
Gaethje was urged to conserve his energy in the third and instead fight in a more controlled way and it instantly paid dividends as Ferguson was picked apart.
El Cucuy was staggered from a massive right hand but somehow continued to press the action but it was becoming clear the fight was running away from him.
In the fourth Ferguson was again wobbled after a picture perfect right hand before then being troubled with a left hook.
Going into the final round the former interim lightweight champion, who had not lost since 2012, was suffering from a battered and cut face.
And Gaethje kept up the pressure in the fifth to eventually force ref Herb Dean to stop the fight with Ferguson still on his feet.
Initially Ferguson refused to embrace Gaethje, but later said: “It was a long camp and Jutsin is a tough son of a b****.
“I had spent a lot of time preparing for Khabib who is not as much of a striker. I would rather have been finished than stopped. Props to Justin, though, thanks for signing on the dotted line.
“I want to tell my kid and my wife and my family at home that I am OK.”
Gaethje will now go on to unify the belt against Nurmagomedov, with fans left to wonder if Ferguson will ever get to share the octagon with grappler Khabib.