Justin Gaethje Says Interim Title is a “Map”, Not “Destination”, UFC Didn’t Tell Him About Move to May 9th

The UFC may be the biggest and most successful MMA promotion in the world, but it looks like the promotion still has some work to do on the communications front. Case in point, Justin Gaethje recently reported no one from the UFC contacted to inform him he was fighting Tony Ferguson, May 9th.

Gaethje found out about May 9th booking through the internet

Gaethje did the UFC a massive solid last month by agreeing to step up on short notice and fight Ferguson, April 18th. The UFC was forced to scramble for a new main event, after lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was stranded in Russia, on account of a coronavirus travel ban.

The UFC tried to host the event at the Tachi Palace Resort and Casino in California. But, after various officials spoke out against the UFC holding an event during the pandemic, the card was postponed.

Well, not long after, the UFC announced that Gaethje and Ferguson were going to battle on May 9th. But, apparently, no one from the promotion bothered to call Gaethje and tell him, or ask if he was on board.

During a recent interview with ESPN, Gaethje reported this (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“Same way I found out it was off: on the internet,” Gaethje said when asked how he was informed about the May 9th card. “I saw that Dana had said that he was having this card May 9th and that I was the main event and I was like, ‘What the hell?!’

To be honest, I was a little bit upset because I’ve always told them I don’t want to fight on short training camps and I don’t blame them, but they had the assumption that because I was going to fight on April 18th I would do it on May 9th, but those are totally different circumstances for me.

So I really wasn’t happy about it, but you go back to the drawing board and risk versus reward, for a world title you can fight on a day’s notice.”

Now sure, some will argue what’s the big deal? Gaethje had agreed to fight April 18th, so why wouldn’t he be on board for May 9th? 

But, as Gaethje noted, any date change can impact a fighter’s preparation, their mindset, etc. Also, what if Gaethje had injured himself after the April 18th card was postponed? Or taken sick?

Gaethje says interim title is a “map”

At the end of the day, the rugged vet is going to face Ferguson for an interim title. While Gaethje acknowledges winning the belt would be a nice addition to his resume, it’s not his end goal.

“When they wrap that belt around me, it won’t be a destination, it will be a map, a map to the top,” Gaethje said. “That’s how I’m looking at it.

It will be nice to have a belt wrapped around you but for me it won’t be the same. It will never mean that I’m a world champion in the UFC.

But yes, absolutely, when I beat Tony, I’m fighting Khabib next. That’s what I’m here for. I’m trying to be the best in the world. And when I fight him I want him to try to kill me because I won’t respect him if he doesn’t.”

Fair enough. UFC 249 has yet to have an official location announced. But, recently it was reported the event will take place in Florida.