UFC 249 results: Justin Gaethje stuns Tony Ferguson, Henry Cejudo retires, undercard reaction

Gaethje stopped Ferguson in the fifth to set up a title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov

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Justin Gaethje put on a striking masterclass to score a surprise knockout victory over Tony Ferguson and win the interim lightweight title at UFC 249, which took place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday.

Ferguson, who came into the fight on a 12-win streak, suffered damage as Gaethje chopped at his legs and landed thunderous hooks before referee Herb Dean stepped in to end the fight late in the fifth round.

With over 80,000 deaths in the United States due to COVID-19, the UFC has come under fire for putting on the event, which took place with no fans in the stands and with stringent health and safety protocols in place.

Despite the absence of a crowd, the fights themselves lacked nothing in intensity, with Francis Ngannou scoring the knockout of the night, blitzing Jairzinho Rozenstruik with a left hook to force a stoppage after just 20 seconds of the first round.

Sam Alvey was the first fighter into the empty arena on the night, pointing and high-fiving the imaginary crowd as he made his way to the cage where he fell to a decision loss to Ryan Spann in the evening's opening fight on the prelim card.

There was a surprise result in the main event of the evening (Getty)

Apart from the fighters, the referees and the commentators, event staff wore face masks and only one corner-man per fighter was allowed into the cage in the breaks between rounds.

"It was funny, I could hear a lot. Everybody out there I could hear really clearly, but at the same time ... it wasn't much different than if the crowd were there," Vicente Luque told reporters following his stoppage win over Niko Price.

Such was the silence that Luque was able to hear the commentators, and heavyweight Greg Hardy said he was able to take the advice of TV commentator Daniel Cormier to counter Yorgan De Castro's leg kicks en route to a decision victory.

In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo retained his bantamweight belt with a second-round stoppage win over Dominick Cruz before immediately retiring in the octagon. The 33-year-old, who won a gold medal for wrestling at the 2008 Olympics, has said he was happy with his career and that he wanted to start a family.

Returning after a long layoff, former champ Cruz was dropped with a knee to the head and suffered the first knockout of his career with just two seconds left in the second round.

However, the biggest prize of the night went to Gaethje, who is now next in line to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed lightweight crown.

Cejudo appeared to retire from the sport after his win (Getty)

"I'll wait for the real one," Gaethje said as he tossed the interim belt aside moments after it was put around his waist. Reuters

Relive all of the live action below:

Next UFC event: UFC Fight Night Smith vs Teixeira on Wednesday 13 May.

Key Points

• Justin Gaethje​ def. Tony Ferguson, TKO (punches, R5)
• Henry Cejudo def. Dominick Cruz, TKO (knee and punches, R2)
• Francis Ngannou def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, KO (punches, R1)
• Calvin Kattar def. Jeremy Stephens, TKO (elbows and punches, R2)  
• ​Greg Hardy def. Yorgan de Castro, Decision (unanimous, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

[10 May 2020 02:43 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Cerrone has survived the opening 40 seconds!

[10 May 2020 02:43 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

It's a very tentative start. Both men darting in and out of range and feinting regularly. Pettis is the lighter on his feet. Cerrone is showing more appetite to come forward and throw shots.

[10 May 2020 02:47 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Whoah! Pettis explodes forward and throws a big leg kick but Cerrone adjusts well and uses Pettis' aggression against him, securing a takedown and gaining top control.

It doesn't come to anything though. Cerrone fails to capitalise on his advantage and abandons his ground attack, allowing Pettis to get back to his feet. 

[10 May 2020 02:47 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

End of the first round. Cerrone's right eye is starting to swell quite considerably.

[10 May 2020 02:48 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Seconds out. Round two.

[10 May 2020 02:50 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Big exchange! Pettis stings Cerrone with a swinging left hand and there's a mad flurry in the middle of the Octagon, although neither man lands anything significant.

This is growing into a fun fight. Pettis on top, but only just. 

[10 May 2020 02:53 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Pettis lands two nice body kicks. He's keeping busy and is surely ahead on the cards.

But Cerrone secures a nice takedown! That's his second in this fight. He pins his rival against the cage and lands a nice knee to the body, but Pettis is able to get to his feet. 

[10 May 2020 02:53 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

End of the round. Pettis comes close to landing a spinning leg kick. I have him two rounds up. I think Cerrone needs a knockout, to be honest.

[10 May 2020 02:55 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Seconds out. Round three.

[10 May 2020 02:56 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Pettis lands a stiff left jab that lands flush on Cerrone's chin. That looked a good shot. But Cerrone bites back and halts Pettis' march forward with a good combo. He's still a live opponent, that's for sure.