UFC 249: Justin Gaethje Stops Ridiculously Game Tony Ferguson

Justin Gaethje snapped Tony Ferguson’s 12 fight winning streak tonight at UFC 249, but it took everything the former WSOF champ had to do so.

Round one

Ferguson was the busier of the two early on. Gaethje just missed with a big left hook. Gaethje fired in a hard right that missed but then he planted  a left. Ferguson stuck a jab but took a leg kick. Ferguson fired a headkick that was blocked. Both men just missed with huge rights. Gaethje stuck a right. Late in the round both fighters winged huge shots.

Late in the round, Ferguson took an eyepoke.

Round two

Both lightweights came out winging hard punches again round two. Gaethje scored with a big left but Ferguson ate it. Incredible. Gaethje started landing with more leg kicks. Gaethje continued to threaten with hard hooks but Ferguson didn’t stop moving forward. Gaethje countered Ferguson hard and “El Cucuy” tried a spinning elbow moments later. Gaethje winged a couple more booming shots but Ferguson scored with 1 – 2. Ferguson dropped Gaethje late in the frame with an uppercut but the former WSOF champ popped back up.

Round three

Gaethje planted a right hand moments into round three and then he scored with a left that Tony ate moments later.  A large welt started growing quickly under Ferguson’s right eye. Mid round, Gaethje rocked Ferguson with a hard right but “El Cucuy” appeared to recover. Moments later, Gaethje scored with two more hooks that Ferguson ate. Crazy. Late in round three, Ferguson scored with a nice sweep kick. Gaethje tagged Ferguson with another right before the round ended.

Round four

Ferguson kept busy with his jab early on into round four. Gaethje cracked Ferguson with a check hook not long after. Gaethje scored with another left hook. Ferguson started to vary up his kicks. Gaethje pounded in a huge right that wobbled Ferguson badly. “El Cucuy” moved away and managed to recover. Gaethje planted a hard leg kick that stumbled “El Cucuy”.

Round five

Gaethje landed another right hook that also appeared to hurt Ferguson. Gaethje mixed in more punches and kicks  and Ferguson was really wearing it by round five. Gaethje cracked Ferguson again with some hooks that clearly hurt the former interim champ. Ferguson attempted an Imanari roll but missed. Gaethje cracked Ferguson with more hooks that pushed “El Cucuy” back. Ferguson is taking a ridiculous amount of punishment. Gaethje tagged Ferguson again, and the latter was clearly hurt. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. Replay shows that Gaethje broke Ferguson’s nose with the punch. What a performance by Gaethje. “The Highlight” is the interim lightweight champ.

Here are the complete results for UFC 249, which took place in Jacksonville, Florida.

Justin Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson via TKO (punches) R5, 3:39
Henry Cejudo def. Dominick Cruz via TKO (knee & punches) R2, 4:58
Francis Ngannou def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via KO (punches) R1, 0:20
Calvin Kattar def. Jeremy Stephens via TKO (elbow and punches) R2, 2:42
Greg Hardy def. Yorgan De Castro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Anthony Pettis def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Aleksei Oleinik def. Fabricio Werdum via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Carla Esparza def. Michelle Waterson via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30)
Vicente Luque def. Niko Price via TKO (doctor stoppage) R3, 3:37
Bryce Mitchell def. Charles Rosa via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-24)
Ryan Spann def. Sam Alvey via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)