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Justin Gaethje should make an epic alternative after defeating Tony Ferguson on Saturday night time in the principle occasion of UFC 249. However what’s going to Gaethje select?
Positive, his shiny new interim light-weight title belt “100%” ensures him subsequent crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC’s undisputed 155-pound championship, and Gaethje went as far as to say there was no different struggle he wished after stopping Ferguson within the fifth spherical, however the plain reality of the matter is that Gaethje is now additionally in prime place to nab the one largest payday he might presumably ever earn contained in the Octagon towards Irish famous person Conor McGregor.
So what ought to Gaethje do?
Is UFC gold a very powerful factor proper now?
Or is McGregor at all times going to be the larger and better-looking fish within the UFC’s light-weight pond?
Whichever struggle he picks subsequent, Gaethje has an epic option to make after scoring the largest win of his profession towards Ferguson at Vystar Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Why Nurmagomedov Makes Sense
Nurmagomedov is smart as a result of “The Eagle” is the champ. He’s undefeated throughout all promotions in 28 fights, and he already defeated McGregor again at UFC 229 convincingly sufficient that it will appear like Gaethje is avoiding him if he selected McGregor over Nurmagomedov.
On high of that, UFC president Dana White has repeatedly stated the winner of Ferguson-Gaethje would struggle Nurmagomedov subsequent, and the 31-year-old Russian additionally confirmed he’d be able to struggle once more as quickly as July.
In brief, there’s nothing to maintain this struggle from taking place subsequent, and including to that blend is that Gaethje and Nurmagomedov have the identical supervisor, Ali Abdelaziz.
Moreover, McGregor principally revealed on Instagram on Saturday that he’s already aiming to finish a trilogy towards Nate Diaz subsequent, or not less than Diaz is on the very brief record of subsequent doable opponents.
Why McGregor Makes Sense
McGregor is smart as a result of he’s the largest famous person in MMA. Regardless that he misplaced to Nurmagomedov two years in the past, McGregor maintains his standing as the highest draw within the sport. Meaning he brings in essentially the most consideration and largest viewers, and he additionally usually affords his opponents the largest paydays of their careers.
Moreover, Gaethje dealing with McGregor subsequent might probably match into the UFC’s plans in a backward form of approach in that it will supply the Irishman the prospect to earn his coveted rematch towards Nurmagomedov. It might do this by making one other big megafight occur between him and Gaethje, two of one of the best and hottest fighters within the sport.
Add to it that each McGregor and Gaethje are super strikers which might be certain to supply a high-drama motion struggle collectively, and it’s straightforward to see why McGregor is strong possibility for Gaethje to not less than contemplate for his subsequent struggle.
Prediction: Gaethje Picks Nurmagomedov
Gaethje is aware of that Ferguson had lengthy waited to struggle for the undisputed light-weight championship, and even ended up successful the identical interim belt Gaethje now wears with out ever having acquired his title shot.
Whereas some fighters is perhaps tempted to hunt the largest payday of their careers and truthfully can be smart in doing so, Gaethje seemed so wonderful towards Ferguson that he’d virtually be silly to not take his shot at being the primary fighter to defeat Nurmagomedov.
Apart from, Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje is the struggle everybody within the sport in all probability needs to see most proper now after seeing Gaethje shockingly dismantle Ferguson, a fighter who had received 12 straight UFC fights coming into Saturday night time.
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Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson