The wait is almost over, everyone! This Saturday night, in Jacksonville Florida, we’ll actually be able to watch live sports! Dana White has been doing everything and anything he could to continue to put on fights during this pandemic. He has finally succeeded thanks to Florida and all the crazy people living there. UFC 249 will be this Saturday night on ESPN+ PPV with two title fights as the co-main and main events.
The main event will be for the interim lightweight championship between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Of course, Gaethje is replacing the actual lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov since he can no longer enter the country. However, that’s another story. Let’s just focus on what we do get, and that is a hell of a fight! They might be the two most violent fighters in the division, hell the whole UFC. These two are guys you never have to worry about having a dud of a fight. Neither fighter has ever been in a boring fight.
Ferguson has the chance to win the interim belt for a second time – an accomplishment that has never been done before by another fighter. I imagine that’s more bittersweet than anything. But, hey, ‘champ shit only,’ right? Ferguson is, of course, the favorite in this fight. He’s currently on an 11-fight win streak, leaving every fighter he sees a bloody mess of themselves in the octagon after every fight. His technique and stamina are second to none. His unorthodox style makes him impossible to game plan for and also makes his opponents hesitate to try and figure out what the hell he’s going to do.
Gaethje is in for a buzz saw, but I think he’s up to it. If there’s anyone that can succeed in chaos it’s Gaethje. He’s always willing to throw caution to the wind and go out on his shield. That style may be exactly what he has to do to win this fight. Ferguson is known for hurting people, but he’s no stranger to getting hit as well. Getting dropped by Lando Vannata and Antony Pettis. Gaethje has dropped plenty of people in his day and has the capability of ruining Ferguson’s title aspirations.
So, who do I have winning? This might be surprising, but I’m taking Gaethje in this fight. I see him as a fly in the ointment. He’s coming to mess up everyone’s plans. The plan for Ferguson to walk out of this interim champ and walk into a fight with Khabib is going to get spoiled. I think Gaethje knocks out Ferguson in the second round and wins the interim lightweight title.