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With reigning UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov stranded in Russia, Justin Gaethje has stepped up on short notice to face Tony Ferguson for the interim championship in the new main event of UFC 249.
Below is how the MMA community reacted to hew news.
#forthepeople I’m terrified and I fucken love it. #ufc
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) April 6, 2020
I was https://t.co/kw5ajjWDnW
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 6, 2020
Me and conor at 170 then?
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 6, 2020
Unfortunate we don’t get the Ferguson/khabib but This is still going to be #UFC249 https://t.co/dyo1tCaylQ
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 6, 2020
First, @TonyFergusonXT should have waited for @TeamKhabib cuz that’s the fight people truly want. Second, @TeamKhabib should feel disrespected by the @ufc and Interim title. Tony deserves title shot but not this way, again. PPV when everyone wondering about their next paycheck https://t.co/UR8Hh7Ms6S
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) April 6, 2020
After all this, we won’t get the best of either guy. When most of the world is stressed about their next paycheck the ufc is dropping a fight on PPV that people will want to see but not the one they actually saved up for. https://t.co/RbA50viXql
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) April 6, 2020
The @ufc hasn’t ever done @TonyFergusonXT any favors. Someone who’s been a company man, a dominate athlete in the sport for so many years and this is always what he gets, an Interim Title. Viewership of this card is so unknown with everyone holding onto their last pennies. #sad
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) April 6, 2020
AMAZING FIGHT FOR FIGHT FANS! .... THOUGHTS? https://t.co/nJ0YfWKADk
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) April 6, 2020
Yessss!!! The mma drought is over
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) April 6, 2020
I've missed saturday night fights #UFC249 https://t.co/YG6G9XwcqL
Congrats fellas! I hope you guys have a safe and healthy last few days to fight night. With no other sporting events going on, I think it’s safe to say, the WORLD will be watching! https://t.co/L7uO14304W
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 6, 2020
Rest of the card ?
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) April 6, 2020
Real man shit right here. Go get yourself some, @Justin_Gaethje. #ufc249 #forthepeople https://t.co/98AQSxXoiJ
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) April 6, 2020
Sad it isn’t Khabib vs Tony but happy we get some fighting still https://t.co/felcjOkPsu
— Ethereum is on fire (@Benaskren) April 6, 2020
Wow so @TheNotoriousMMA gotta sit and wait for a while. Otherwise who will he fight? @NateDiaz209 https://t.co/CyBsO87jnj
— Ethereum is on fire (@Benaskren) April 6, 2020
so we all gonna ignore the fact Khabob ran away from the fight
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) April 6, 2020
The man let’s go Gaethje https://t.co/EW5sSIDcha
— Damien Brown ダミアン・ブラウン (@beatdown155) April 6, 2020
Strait G!
— Ian Heinisch (@ianheinischmma) April 6, 2020
Violence. #UFC249 https://t.co/skUCOjOHXj
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) April 6, 2020
— Randy Costa (@RandyCosta135) April 6, 2020