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JUSTIN GAETHJE PRESENTED WITH AN UNLIKELY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF

He could never have expected it, but the eyes of the sporting world are now firmly fixed on Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC 249. With the whole event thrown in doubt as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, it will be a relief for all that the big fight night is set to go ahead, and from nowhere Gaethje will now be one of the stars of the show. It was an event that had all been centred on Khabib Nurmagomedov, and his mouth-watering battle with Tony Ferguson, but Russia’s lockdown restrictions ruled out the UFC Lightweight Champion. 

Gaethje has been brought in as the emergency replacement for Khabib, and as a result the dynamics of the fight have changed considerably. Ferguson would have been the underdog against the Russian, but he now becomes the firm favourite in the MMA odds. Meanwhile, Gaethje goes from loitering in the UFC’s shadows, waiting for his chance, to being one of the main men in a much-anticipated showpiece event.

These kinds of opportunities don’t present themselves very often, and so Gaethje will be desperate to seize this chance with both hands. He is undoubtedly a talented fighter – his record of 21 wins and only 2 losses speaks for itself – and while he has experience of the big stage, there will be heavy scrutiny with the expectation that the event will attract masses of viewers. 

The fact that most of the sporting world has come to a complete standstill means that even more attention will be given to the few events that are still going on,  UFC 249 especially. It’s a chance for some welcome distraction from the worrying times the world finds itself in, and few sports have the ability to wow and entertain like MMA. 

With that comes pressure on both Gaethje and Ferguson, and the former will be hoping that his opponent is unsettled by the constant uncertainty in the build up to the fight. Gaethje will need all the help he can get if he is to prove the latest UFC tips wrong and emerge victorious, and a lack of focus on the part of Ferguson may just give him the edge.

You wouldn’t expect Ferguson to suffer from such difficulties though. He is an experienced fighter who knows what it takes at the highest level, and you’d anticipate that he will have remained level headed throughout this period of not knowing who his opponent will actually be. While he may have been relishing the chance to take on the undefeated Khabib, he may now view this as an opportunity to hammer home his true talents to the sporting public.

For Gaethje, perhaps all he can do is focus on his own game, and concentrate on preparing himself as well as this possible for this strange occasion. He is where he is for a reason, and he will have to trust that his talents are enough to get the better of Ferguson. It’s a golden opportunity for him, the kind of moment in the spotlight that all fighters crave. Now it’s time to step up and be counted.

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