Justin Gaethje (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Justin Gaethje acknowledges that the longer his April 18th bout with Tony Ferguson goes, the more it will favor “El Cucuy”. But the former WSOF champ is confident that his punching power will rule the day at UFC 249.

Recently the UFC announced that Gaethje has agreed to face Ferguson for an interim lightweight title at UFC 249, which has yet to have a location announced. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ferguson’s original opponent, the champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is stranded in Russia.

Since news of the new UFC 249 headliner broke, Gaethje appeared on TMZ. While discussing how he sees the short-notice fight playing out, Gaethje said the following (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I got the perfect dance partner,” Gaethje said. “I got the dance partner that I dream about and that’s Tony Ferguson. “He thrives in dark places, he doesn’t get tired, he’s got cardio for days, and I hit like a Mack truck. So when I hit him, he’ll go to sleep.

“I possess some of the best finishing skills on the UFC roster,” he continued. “I’m gonna attack his body, I’m gonna attack his legs and whenever he’s worried about those, I’m going to punch him in the head and hopefully he goes to sleep. If not, he’s probably going to cut me up with some elbows, probably choke me out late in the fight if I don’t put him to sleep. But I’m content with every single one of those scenarios as long as I get to go in there and I don’t disappoint myself and my family.”

Ferguson (25-3) will be fighting for the first time since he recorded a TKO win (due to doctor stoppage) over Donald Cerrone last June. Gaethje (21-2), meanwhile, finished Cerrone in the opening round in his last outing, which took place in September.