Justin Gaethje will step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov and fight Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title at UFC 249 – assuming the event happens April 18 as planned.
After champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw from his anticipated title defense against Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) because of Russia’s travel ban during the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC searched for a new fight to serve as the UFC 249 main event.
Gaethje (20-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) got the call, and the UFC announced the booking Monday.
The major caveat, of course, is that UFC 249 still does not have a confirmed location. ESPN reported on Sunday that the promotion was close to securing a venue on the West Coast, but the promotion still has yet to unveil details publicly.
UFC president Dana White, who has maintained all along that UFC 249 would happen April as planned, is clearly confident, though.
Ferguson, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, is riding a 12-fight winning streak at 155 pounds. He’s been booked to face Nurmagomedov five times – with three of those being for a belt – but each contest has failed to come to fruition for a variety of reasons.
No. 4 Gaethje will bring a three-fight winning streak – all first-round knockouts – into his first UFC title opportunity. “The Highlight” is a former WSOF champion who defended the gold five times under that promotional banner.
