Mixed martial arts fans believe Tony Ferguson took a massive risk when he agreed to face Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 249.
Coming off a 12-fight winning streak, Ferguson was set to give Khabib Nurmagomedov the toughest test of his career as they were scheduled to share the Octagon on April 18 in a title bout at the UFC 249 headliner.
Scrapped for a fifth time, UFC president Dana White confirmed over the weekend that the pay-per-view event will proceed without the undefeated 155-pound titlist, who is currently in quarantine in Russia.
With Khabib out of the equation, White tapped Gaethje as replacement to fight ‘El Cucuy’ on short notice, with the interim lightweight title up for grabs.
The UFC president made the official announcement on Monday, saying the UFC 249 fight card will happen ‘somewhere on earth.’
https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1247244231778775041
Ferguson will be the heavy favourite in this matchup and some MMA fans are confident it will be a walk in the park for the number one lightweight contender.
Check out some of the craziest reactions to the Ferguson vs Gaethje booking below:
https://twitter.com/DovySimuMMA/status/1247251176816607236
https://twitter.com/w0lveswithin/status/1247249979783237635
https://twitter.com/JoelCuadros4/status/1247304349711294464
.@TonyFergusonXT is the cardio king, can @Justin_Gaethje last all 5 rounds? Don't think so. JG needs a KO by round 3 otherwise El Cucuy is gonna be victorious #UFC249
— David Menze (@dmenze4) April 7, 2020
Hey @Justin_Gaethje , @TonyFergusonXT is gonna fuck you up boy , you get hit to much. bad bad , bad match up for you haha. Good luck
— BeastModeBS/CR (@BeastModeBS1) April 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/george_gb92/status/1247276054462504971
I will keep saying this!!! Justin Gaethje is Tony Ferguson’s hardest fight, not Khabib. Although I do believe Tony would beat both. https://t.co/qfMm7UYas0
— J. Cee (@JCee_1213) March 28, 2020
Woah, okay. What a massive risk this is for @TonyFergusonXT! If he loses this fight (which I don’t think he will, it will change everything) big up to the gangster @Justin_Gaethje for stepping up to the plate on such short notice #UFC249 https://t.co/rZ9cCa0vIH
— MMAMOMENTS (@MMAMOMENTS1) April 6, 2020
Meanwhile, some fans fear they might not see the Ferguson vs Khabib happen if ‘The Highlight’ pulls off a major upset.
Damn imagine if Gaethje really beats Ferguson #UFC249
— Nabil (@nbilishk) April 6, 2020
If @TonyFergusonXT loses this fight, @Justin_Gaethje is going to be the most hated man in the UFC for replacing Khabib v Tony. Any other time besides right now, this fight is HUGE. https://t.co/1syz93rF4T
— Azur Hendic (@theazurhendic) April 6, 2020
Justin Gaethje is a legit — and I mean legit — threat to defeat Tony. I hate this decision by the UFC. They’re playing with fire to an extreme degree.
Tony is 35, he’s not making another title run if he loses. Gaethje wins and we lose Tony vs Khabib forever. Awful. #UFC249
— Luca Fury (@FurysFightPicks) April 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/MacMallyMMA/status/1247333060464349186
https://twitter.com/TahirTJ_/status/1247296592811622401
Ferguson vs. Gaethje has "both fighters were transported to hospital" written all over it, but they want to hold it where the nearest ER is a boat/plane ride away? Bad idea. #UFC249
— Euric (@ItsEuric) April 7, 2020
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje)