U glavnoj borbi UFC 249 priredbe u Jacksonevilleu na Floridi, Justin Gaethje uspio je savladati favoriziranog Tonyja Fergusona i dokopati se titule privremenog prvaka lake kategorije.
Gaethje je na kraju slavio tehničkim nokautom, odnosno, prekidom u petoj rundi i to zato što Ferguson više nije mogao pružati otpor. Ferguson, koji je do ovog meča imao 12 uzastopnih pobjeda, trebao se na ovom eventu boriti s prvakom Khabibom Nurmagomedovim, ali Khabib je otkazao zbog pandemije koronavirusa i Gaethje je uskočio i eto na kraju šokirao favorita.
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518411051, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
Razbio ga u petoj rundi
Gaethje je sjajno otvorio borbu, dominirao je od samog početka i dobro isprebijao Fergusona i sve je bilo sjajno do konca druge runde kada ga je Ferguson poslao na pod razornim aperkatom. Međutim, spasilo ga je zvono i u međuvremenu se uspio nekako pribrati i onda je krenuo pakao za Fergusona.
U trećoj rundi zadao je tri teška udarca Fergusonu nakon kojih se ovaj nije baš uspio oporaviti. U sljedećoj rundi Ferguson je pokušao malo popraviti stvari, ali kao da je upao u živo blato. Gaethje ga je ponovo pogodio i uzdrmao, a ovaj se jedva izvukao. U petoj rundi, 20-ak sekundi prije kraja, Gaethje je ispucao odličnu kombinaciju i sudac je morao prekinuti meč jer Ferguson više nije pružao otpor, iako je ostao na nogama.
Gaethje je sada vlasnik privremene titule prvaka, ali je postao prvi izazivač Nurmagomedovu.
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518411031, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518411055, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518411030, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518411036, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
May 9, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Dana White puts the championship belt on Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) after defeating Tony Ferguson (red gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena., Image: 518410330, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** World Rights ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia
