Getty Justin Gaethje punches Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249.
The UFC made its return on May 9, and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje walked out of the Octagon as the interim lightweight champion. Gaethje took on No. 1 ranked lightweight Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249, and after five hard-fought rounds, The Highlight was able to get his hand raised by TKO.
With the victory over El Cucuy, who was riding a 12-fight win streak, Gaethje improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 22-2 and is presumably in line to unify the title by fighting lightweight champ Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov.
After The Highlight finished Ferguson, fighters took to Twitter to share their thoughts about the main event.
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Fighters React to Gaethje Beating El Cucuy at UFC 249
Current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya tweeted:
He said, “I called a KO…but f*** the man can take a beating.”
Current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones tweeted:
Damn, beat that man like he broke into the wrong house
He said, “Damn, beat that man like he broke into the wrong house.”
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir tweeted:
I don’t know what Tony Ferguson’s chin is made of but I’m pretty sure the cure and vaccine for the Corona Virus is in there #UFC249
He said, “I don’t know what Tony Ferguson’s chin is made of but I’m pretty sure the cure and vaccine for the Corona Virus is in there.”
Top-ranked light heavyweight fighter Dominick Reyes posted:
The Fkin champ!!!! @Justin_Gaethje Congrats Homie!!!!! #ufc249 #greatfight #earnedthatshit
He said, “The Fkin champ!!!! [Justin Gaethje]. Congrats Homie!!!!!”
A Former UFC lightweight champion and a man who has a victory over Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, tweeted:
Styles truly make match ups … Thank you to Justin and Tony for an incredible fight 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
He said, “Styles truly make match ups … Thank you to Justin and Tony for an incredible fight.”
Heavyweight Francis Ngannou, who fought during the UFC 249 main card, tweeted:
OMG😲! What a main event?! Hell of a performance for Justin and Tony.
Congratulations to @Justin_Gaethje for the Amazing win 👏.
He said, “OMG! What a main event?! Hell of a performance for Justin and Tony. Congratulations to [Justin Gaethje] for the Amazing win.”
Bellator fighter and Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis posted:
respect to Tony Ferguson a true samurai he will be back stronger than ever
Danis said, “respect to Tony Ferguson a true samurai he will be back stronger than ever.”
Welterweight Michael Chiesa tweeted:
10 years from now, I can’t wait to watch the ESPN 30 for 30 about UFC 249. #ufc249
He said, “10 years from now, I can’t wait to watch the ESPN 30 for 30 about UFC 249.”
Gaethje’s Likely Next Opponent, Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Gave Props to The Highlight
After referee Herb Dean stopped the fight in the fifth round, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov took to Twitter to give The Highlight props. He tweeted:
@Justin_Gaethje it was so impressive, congratulations. Very smart fight.
The tweet reads: “[Justin Gaethje] it was so impressive, congratulations. Very smart fight.” Khabib also tweeted:
В этом спорте и особенно в этом весе всегда будут голодные львы, которые будут тебе дышат в спину, если ты расслабишься то тебе конец. Одни уходят и другие приходят, тут нечему удивляться.
Но я раньше выстрела не упаду. Мы ещё повоюем.
The lightweight champion said: “In this sport, and especially in this weight there will always be hungry lions that will breathe in your back, if you relax, then you will end. Some leave and others come, there is nothing to be surprised. But I won’t fall before the shot. We will still fight.”
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