[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] is interim UFC lightweight champion after defeating [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] on Saturday in the UFC 249 headliner.
Gaethje (22-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) stepped up on short notice and achieved the biggest moment of his career when he broke Ferguson’s (25-4 MMA, 15-2 UFC) epic winning streak with a fifth-round TKO victory in the main event matchup, which took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., and aired on pay-per-view. It’s expected he will next face Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Gaethje’s interim title victory over Ferguson at UFC 249.
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The time has finally come. Strap yourself in. @TonyFergusonXT and @Justin_Gaethje are about to fight for interim lightweight gold in the #UFC249 headliner.
Play-by-play: https://t.co/zC1bAjK9sT pic.twitter.com/59hu0E8gZr
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) May 10, 2020
#UFC249 Closing Betting Odds:
Interim Lightweight Title
Justin Gaethje +195
Tony Ferguson -225@CircaSports 💵 Live Now -> @ESPN+ PPV @Jon_Anik @joerogan @dc_mma @MMAOddsBreaker https://t.co/tof2w6pOoz— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) May 10, 2020
HYPE LEVELS OFF THE CHART.@TonyFergusonXT @Justin_Gaethje #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/ojfNCv5zkJ
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
Low kick from Gaethje. Ferguson with a body kick and left hand. #UFC249
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 10, 2020
Justin is putting EVERYTHING into those punches #UFC249
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) May 10, 2020
Did Gaethje just try for a takedown?
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) May 10, 2020
Only a matter of time.
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) May 10, 2020
This is the best to have when you can hear every strike. The sound alone makes me clinch up 😂 #UFC249
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) May 10, 2020
Gaethje landing some nice punches but Ferg still moving forward!
— Fight Island (@Benaskren) May 10, 2020
Great round of action.
— michael (@bisping) May 10, 2020
Gaethje 1-0
— Curtis Blaydes (@RazorBlaydes265) May 10, 2020
Geez these boys are hitting hard 😆
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 10, 2020
I can see Justin winning this
— Randa Markos (@randamma) May 10, 2020
Gaethje waiting a bit too long to pull the trigger. Doesn’t seem like he’s found his comfort zone and the clock is ticking
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) May 10, 2020
These guys are throwing BOMBS!! #UFC249
— sheldon westcott (@sheldonwestcott) May 10, 2020
I did not think tony would be able to take these shots. #UFC249
— Anthony Rocco Martin (@TonyRoccoMartin) May 10, 2020
Omg @TonyFergusonXT chin in the air is making me nervous with those hammers flying
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) May 10, 2020
Good Lord. Ferguson is getting hit with some shots. Garth came ready tonight He can really fight. Power in both hands. Good boxing skills. But Ferguson can take a punch.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 10, 2020
These are some clean ass shots that Justin is landing #UFC249
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) May 10, 2020
Good lord. This is somehow even more intense in dead silence. #UFC249
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 10, 2020
How is he still standing
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 10, 2020
Gaethje's very tired already and Ferguson is inhuman.
— Matheus Aquino (@MatheusDCAquino) May 10, 2020
Tony Ferguson isnt human… #UFC249
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) May 10, 2020
😱😱😱😱😱😱
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) May 10, 2020
This is about to get interesting
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) May 10, 2020
F#cking HOW!! #ufc249
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) May 10, 2020
Tony is yelling across the cage between rounds: “Let’s go, Justin! Get him off that stool! Come on, Justin.” #UFC249
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 10, 2020
I might get knocked out watching this @ufc #249
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) May 10, 2020
That double uppercut gonna be a gif for ages. #UFC249
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 10, 2020
This fight is super crazy!!! #UFC249 Tony vs Justin
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) May 10, 2020
You ever get hit so hard you gotta just walk it off for a sec?😳😂 These boys are swiiiiingin. #UFC249
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) May 10, 2020
I things for sure @TrevorWittman is one hell of a coach #respect #ufc249
— Phil Daru (@DaruStrong) May 10, 2020
Tony's face is starting to show it.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) May 10, 2020
Looks like Tony Ferguson might have a broken orbital on his right side. #UFC249
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 10, 2020
Ferguson starting to look how he normally makes his opponents! Crimson mask on the horizon
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) May 10, 2020
I’m serious I can’t watch this fight anymore 🙈🙈🙈 @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) May 10, 2020
Bro Tony’s chin is another thing!!! @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) May 10, 2020
This is the most patient and measured I’ve seen Gaethje! #UFC249
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) May 10, 2020
This fight deserves an audience!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) May 10, 2020
Tony just did a move right out of mortal Kombat #UFC249
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) May 10, 2020
Gaethje after round 3 yells to press row, “Oh, goddamn this fun!” #UFC249
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 10, 2020
👊💥😱
How is Ferguson still standing after this massive right from @Justin_Gaethje?! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/Ow1Qdb3cNQ
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
Ferguson’s toughness is the most unreal shit 😂 take power shots like rocky!
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) May 10, 2020
Tony has thrown every technique in MMA but the Showtime Kick and the kitchen sink. #UFC249
— Gorgeous George (@MMAjunkieGeorge) May 10, 2020
Now that is cardio and lots of heart. ✊🏼@TonyFergusonXT #UFC249
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) May 10, 2020
“Why do they call Tony Ferguson “el cucuy?” 🧟♂️#UFC249
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 10, 2020
The amount of times I’ve taken the lords name in vein when @Justin_Gaethje lands a punch even amazes me.
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) May 10, 2020
That leg is compromised and that chin has been tested one too many times
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 10, 2020
What a fight wow Tony vs Gaetjhe #UFC249
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) May 10, 2020
My man just said give me sand! Corners fired on site. He needs more technical advise @ufc #UFC249
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 10, 2020
Give these men all the bonuses
— michael (@bisping) May 10, 2020
This could have the same effect Griffin vs Bonnar in 05 had…but triple double!!
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) May 10, 2020
This is one of the best fights I’ve ever seen @UFC @TonyFergusonXT @joseala05671064
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) May 10, 2020
Running into the biggest shots you’ll ever see and still somehow alive let alone still in the game!! #ufc249
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) May 10, 2020
So 8 bonuses in 7 fights coming up for Gaethje? Omg this is an incredible display from both guys #ufc249
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) May 10, 2020
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
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) May 10, 2020
Fuck… Ferguson is tough! Justin has gotten so much better! He is dominating tony
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) May 10, 2020
Somebody stop this shit
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 10, 2020
Justin Gaethje stops Tony Ferguson in the fifth round. Spectacular. Your new interim UFC lightweight champ. #UFC249
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) May 10, 2020
Thank you Herb.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 10, 2020
Ohh emm geee @Justin_Gaethje is sooo good 🔥🔥🔥 #UFC249
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) May 10, 2020
After stoppage, Dana said twice, “Good job, ref.” #UFC249
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 10, 2020
Justin Gaethje's maturation from wild brawler to champion has been one of the most incredible in-cage stories we've seen in years. Congratulations to the new UFC interim lightweight champion.
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) May 10, 2020
Wow.. absolutely flawless performance from @Justin_Gaethje #UFC249
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) May 10, 2020
Told ya
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 10, 2020
I Told Everyone this was going to happen a month ago, they called me a hater
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 10, 2020
Does the UFC risk Connor vs Gaethje
— Fight Island (@Benaskren) May 10, 2020
And now we get @Justin_Gaethje vs @khabib … and that makes my heart happy 😍#ufc249
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) May 10, 2020
Justin Gaethje becomes the third UFC interim lightweight champion after Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier. #UFC249
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) May 10, 2020
One of the sickest performances I have ever seen. #ufc249
— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) May 10, 2020
Damn, beat that man like he broke into the wrong house
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 10, 2020
fuck Gaethje
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) May 10, 2020
No comment.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 10, 2020
@Justin_Gaethje it was so impressive, congratulations. Very smart fight.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 10, 2020
#UFC249 results: @Justin_Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson via TKO (punches) – Round 5, 3:39 – to win interim lightweight title https://t.co/zC1bAjK9sT pic.twitter.com/4IVuMZxLVd
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) May 10, 2020