Could Justin Gaethje End Up Facing Tony Ferguson At UFC 249?

On Monday morning, it was reported that the UFC 249 fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson would once again be off the table. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the travel restrictions that come with it, UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib is stuck in Russia. If UFC President Dana White wants to continue his quest to move on with the April 18th event, he needs a headliner.

ESPN was the first to report that Justin Gaethje is the frontrunner to face Ferguson. It is unknown if it would be for an interim title or not.

Gaethje (21-2) has won three fights in a row since August 2018. His last fight was a TKO-win over Donald Cerrone back in September. Since debuting in the UFC in 2017, the 31-year-old has earned six fight bonuses. It was rumored that Gaethje would be facing Conor McGregor sometime this summer following initial reports of him rejecting the fight.

Given a limited time to prepare, Gaethje wouldn’t be worried. He spoke to MMA Fighting not long ago about what’s going on in the United States and how he is working around it.

“The gyms are closed but I went in, we had four people,” Gaethje stated. “Me, Drew Dober and both of our coaches so it was four people in the gym. “I think as long as you have under 10 people. I’m not really sure what the rules are. They definitely closed all the gyms to the public.

“It’s been pretty normal for me. I go to the office. I have a treadmill downstairs so I can just put the work in on the treadmill. That’s the good thing about fighting. Really, it’s just cardio and it’s easy to get cardio and trying not to get lazy and trying not to eat all the food we got stocked up.”

Dana has insisted there will be a UFC 249. With events getting postponed left and right, will he get what he wants? Already rumored to be on the card, Francis Ngannou v. Jairzinho Rozenstruik could end up being the new main event if things don’t work out.

If nobody is able to step up, Jorge Masvidal has offered his services for the event. There have been rumors of the BMF Champion facing Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in July. That could change if everything is moved around.

April 18 I’m free #theresurrection

— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) March 30, 2020

Start Cutting Weight MuthaFucka!!!

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) March 30, 2020