Triple Take: On the merit of each UFC title fight planned for May 9

The UFC is back to pushing for a return to action in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, with a major card announced for May 9 that will apparently consist of three championship bouts: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title, Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight belt, and Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer for the women’s featherweight strap.

If the promotion is able to find a way to pull off the event, did the organization put together the appropriate championship matchups? MMA Junkie’s Simon Head, Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn give their opinions in the latest edition of Triple Take.

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Simon Head: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje

Let’s be honest here, we all want to see Tony Ferguson back in the cage. He made weight at home last weekend, even though he already knew his fight was off and has gone to great lengths to let the world know that he’s in championship shape and ready to go.

His ever-elusive fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov may be on the back burner (yet again), but if we’re looking for a suitable replacement, it really doesn’t get much better than Justin Gaethje. Both men are among the most exciting fighters in the sport to watch, both have the ability to finish fights in an instant and, best of all, both have an entertaining habit of turning every one of their fights into all-out barnburners.

On top of all of that, it’s the right fight to make from a divisional standpoint, too. Gaethje is the highest-ranked ’55er not to have fought for a title yet, while Ferguson never actually lost the interim title in competition.

It means Ferguson vs. Gaethje is a slam-dunk booking at 155 and sets everything up perfectly not only for fight night, but also for what comes next, which (pretty please) will see the winner take on Nurmagomedov around September for the undisputed unified title.

If ever there was a main event fight to kick-start the UFC’s return to business, this is it.

Next page – Farah Hannoun: Cejudo vs. Cruz