Justin Gaethje says ‘you are an fool in the event you’re not excited’ about his battle with Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 (VIDEO)

Justin Gaethje says you’d should be loopy to not be excited by his interim light-weight title battle with Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18.

The UFC light-weight contender and former World Sequence of Preventing light-weight champ will tackle Ferguson for the interim UFC light-weight title within the newly-booked primary occasion of UFC 249, which can be held at a thriller location on April 18.

And whereas he admitted the prospect of stepping in on such quick discover in opposition to probably the most harmful 155-pound fighters on the planet, the person generally known as “The Spotlight” says he is prepared to satisfy the problem head-on.

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“Each time I’ve ever fought there’s by no means been this many unknowns, a lot much less the unknowns we’re coping with proper now,” he advised TMZ.

“So it is actually a terrifying second, and I am speaking in regards to the competitors aspect. I do know what I am going through.

“Tony’s been preparing for Khabib Nurmagomedov, to battle for a world title, for the final three, 4, 5 months. I do not understand how lengthy, it does not matter. Nevertheless it’s good, as a result of I all the time assume they’re working more durable, I all the time assume they’re higher than me, I all the time assume they’re luckier than me, and I like to face adversity. I am going through my fears proper now, and I feel that is what all of us have to do.”

Gaethje has been supplied short-notice fights previously, and has turned all of them down as he has taken a wise method to his combating profession to make sure he will get the absolute best preparation to ship the absolute best performances contained in the octagon. However the lure of UFC gold proved to be the clincher as he accepted the job of filling in for light-weight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249.

“No, I have never (accepted a short-notice battle like this earlier than), however I’ve additionally by no means been supplied a UFC title and that is the one factor I am working for. That is all I have been working for for the reason that starting, so I am able to gamble,” he mentioned.

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“There’s only a few folks on earth that will join what me and Tony signed up for – together with most UFC fighters. Plenty of guys will say that they are prepared however numerous guys is not going to put their title on that dotted line.

“They known as me, my coach mentioned no. Nicely, not no, however he mentioned, ‘You do not take late-replacement fights.’ and I mentioned, ‘You are proper.’ So I used to be like, ‘Let’s sleep on it.’

“The following morning once I wakened I mentioned, ‘If I lose, the place are we at?’ And for me, it is in the identical actual spot that I am in proper now.

“I’ll go on the market, I’ll get a paycheck, which is sweet. However finally I get an opportunity at glory. Heroes reside eternally, legends by no means die and I am actually right here to make a press release. My title can be carried on far longer after I am right here due to my effort, due to my work ethic and due to the talents I possess.”

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Gaethje has a fame as one of many hardest-hitting lightweights within the UFC, however he’s additionally very nicely conscious of his opponent’s personal resume. Ferguson holds the longest undefeated streak within the UFC, tied with Nurmagomedov, and has left a string of battered, bloody opponents in his wake on his run towards the highest of the UFC light-weight division.

It means the matchup between the pair ought to ship assured pleasure once they throw down on April 18. And Gaethje mentioned that followers ought to get behind the battle, saying that they’d should be out of their minds to not be excited by the prospect of himself and Ferguson going toe to toe contained in the octagon.

“Tony brings many challenges,” admitted Gaethje.

“I am trying ahead to going through adversity in there. I do know he thrives in darkish locations and I think about myself to additionally thrive in darkish locations. In order disappointing as it’s that Khabib and Tony aren’t taking place, in the event you’re a fan of MMA, then you definately’re an fool in the event you’re not enthusiastic about this battle.

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“I’ve obtained the proper dance associate. I obtained the dance associate that I dream about. Like I mentioned, he thrives in darkish locations, he does not get drained, he is obtained cardio for days and I hit like a Mack truck. So once I hit him, he’ll fall asleep.

“I possess among the greatest ending expertise on the UFC roster. I’ll assault his physique and I’ll assault his legs after which, each time he is anxious about these, I’ll punch him within the head and hopefully he goes to sleep. If not, he is in all probability going to chop me up with some elbows, in all probability choke me out late within the battle, if I do not put him to sleep.

“However I am content material with each single a type of eventualities, simply so long as I get to go in there and I do not disappoint myself and my household. That is my solely purpose.”

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