What mattered most at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Fla.? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. Justin Gaethje shows up
We already knew Justin Gaethje was a gamer and one of the most relentless athletes in the sport. Even for his most loyal of supporters, though, his performance against Tony Ferguson was a bit of an eye-opener to what he’s truly capable of.
Gaethje styled on Ferguson for the better part of five rounds before picking up a late stoppage to claim the interim UFC lightweight title. It was a truly sensational effort, especially considering Gaethje only had about five weeks total to prepare for it.
A near-perfect strategy allowed Gaethje to snap Ferguson’s 12-fight winning streak and take the unification bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov out from under him. Gaethje certainly deserves it, too, because few give so much of themselves every time they step in the octagon.
Gaethje earned his chance to challenge Nurmagomedov by coming to UFC 249 with his A game. If he can do that again and halt the iconic 28-0 record of “The Eagle,” he would have a case for the best two-win stretch in history.
5 biggest takeaways from UFC 249: Ferguson's heartbreak, Cruz's comments, Cerrone's skid
