Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje do battle for the interim UFC lightweight championship at UFC 249 this weekend.
Khabib Nurmagomedov rules the 155lbs division and had been scheduled to defend his title against no.1 contender Ferguson in Saturday’s main event.
But for a fifth time, their proposed bout fell by the wayside - this time due to Nurmagomedov being unable to travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The show goes on however and Justin Gaethje, currently ranked fourth, now has the chance to climb the rankings and force his way into the title picture.
Former lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who made his UFC return at welterweight in January, could be leapfrogged if Gaethje can end Ferguson’s 12-fight winning streak.
UFC lightweight division
Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov (beat Al Iaquinta on 7 April 2018)
| 1. | Tony Ferguson |
| 2. | Dustin Poirier |
| 3. | Conor McGregor |
| 4. | Justin Gaethje |
| 5. | Dan Hooker |
| 6. | Donald Cerrone |
| 7. | Paul Felder |
| 8. | Charles Oliveira |
| 9. | Al Iaquinta |
| 10. | Kevin Lee |
| 11. | Edson Barboza |
| 12. | Diego Ferreira |
| 13. | Gregor Gillespie |
| 14. | Islam Makhachev |
| 15. | Alexander Hernandez |
