Gaethje (left) and Ferguson (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Although Justin Gaethje recorded the biggest win of his career last night at UFC 249, by stopping Tony Ferguson, the new interim champ was pretty reserved following the victory.

The lightweights went to war in the headliner of Saturday’s card, but it was Gaethje who repeatedly landed the cleaner and more punishing shots. In round five, after Gaethje stunned a bloodied Ferguson once again, the fight was stopped.

After the win, Gaethje quickly took off the interim belt. During the post-fight presser, Gaethje explained why he had done so (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“That’s the competitor in me,” Gaethje said. “That’s the mindset I have to have to face the challenge that is Khabib. I can’t think of myself as the champion because for one, I’m not and for two, Khabib’s still there. So again, I can’t become complacent.

“It’s always the first fight. People think they’re infallible. That’s what will kill you in this sport. My lights can turn off, I’m human. I have a brain. As soon as you shake it, I will go to sleep. I almost did at the end of the second. But the good thing is I’m fighting humans and so I just perform.”

Gaethje (22-2) is expected to face champion Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year.