After stunning UFC debut win, Justin Gaethje expects Tony Ferguson to dismiss him

LAS VEGAS – After a “Fight of the Year”-candidate debut, UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje wants his second octagon fight to be for the interim title against Tony Ferguson.

He doesn’t expect Ferguson to want the same.

“He’ll probably say I’m not worthy,” Gaethje (18-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said after a second-round stoppage of Michael Johnson (17-12 MMA, 9-8 UFC) that won him two bonuses and put him in the running for “Fight of the Year.” “He lost to Michael Johnson; I just finished him. So he’ll be full of (expletive) when he says that.”

Regardless of how Ferguson responds to the callout, Gaethje plans to continue his conquest of the lightweight division. He estimates he’s one or two steps from facing off with lightweight champ Conor McGregor. If Ferguson demurs, he’ll take a fight with McGregor foil Nate Diaz.

“Whoever gets me closer to an interim title right now,” Gaethje told MMAjunkie. “McGregor’s not here. So I’m going to get that interim title on my waist, and when he comes back, pressure.”

McGregor isn’t usually one to take in UFC debuts unless one of his teammates is fighting. But he found the time to watch Gaethje’s fight despite being in the middle of training camp for a boxing showdown with Floyd Mayweather.

“That was a good contest,” McGregor tweeted. “Two fighters, fighting.”

Quite the endorsement for the first-timer.

“I’m in his weight class – he better be watching,” Gaethje said. “He has a big target on his back, and I’m aiming for it. So I expected him to watch. Thankful for the credit, obviously. He’s a fighter, I’m a fighter, and real recognizes real. I literally put it on the line, so you have to respect that.”

Ferguson has yet to weigh in on Gaethje’s debut.

Gaethje ventured if the UFC finds it suitable to put him in an interim title fight in time to greet McGregor when he returns, all the better. But for now, he’ll wait to see what the promotion has in store.

“One at a time,” he said. “I just want to know who’s next so I can have a path and a target.”

For complete coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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