Safford-bred Gaethje ready for his biggest fight in UFC 249
Justin Gaethje says he’s been living in isolation for the last two years, so the coronavirus pandemic era of social distancing isn’t a big lifestyle change for the Safford-bred UFC fighter.
So what if there will be no fans at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., where sports in America once again has a platform with UFC 249.
So what if most everybody wants to know when his opponent, Tony Ferguson, is finally going to be able to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title belt.
So what if Gaethje is being considered the fill-in guy to fight Ferguson, because of the out-of-country travel restrictions preventing Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA record, 12-0 UFC) from leaving his native Dagestan.
This is Gaethje’s big moment, a chance to steal the main card, a chance to put himself among the greatest names in UFC’s history, a chance to be the guy who ultimately takes on Nurmagomedov.
“As a fighter, you want to control or have a say of your destiny,” Gaethje said this week during a media conference call between the fighters. “Things worked out way the way it did and I have a say in my ultimate destiny.”
Saturday’s main card at the UFC 249 is being billed as the interim lightweight championship because of Nurmagomedov’s absence.
Five times, the highly anticipated lightweight championship fight between Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Nurmagomedov has been scratched, the last time on April 18 because of the coronavirus.
Ferguson, at this point, doesn’t even want to talk about Nurmagomedov.
“Only two real men out there right now,” said Ferguson, who has won his last 12 fights.
Gaethje, 31, who won two Arizona high school wrestling championship at Safford High School before having a successful career at Northern Colorado, has been on a fast flight towards the top in the UFC.
He is 21-2, winning 18 of those by knockout or technical knockout, including his last three fights ending with first-round TKOs.
Gaethje isn’t letting the hype of the biggest moment get to him.
“When the fight comes, only a few things I can control,” he said. “The effort and the preparation.”
He comes from generations of copper mine workers is Safford, so Gaethje learned at a young age the value of hard work.
UFC President Dana White, so impressed by Gaethje’s rise, has said that this could wind up being the fight of the year.
Both fighters had to be tested for COVID-19 before the fight.
This is new territory, engaging in man-to-man combat during a time when governments are calling out for social distancing.
But this was something Gaehje couldn’t dismiss when the opportunity was presented to be Ferguson’s opponent.
“They don’t come often,” He said. “It’s a perfect storm. This is all we fight for. You fight to be No. 1. You fight to prove you’re No. 1. You have to take the chances when they’re presented.”
For Ferguson, it’s a chance to “keep sports alive.”