Prior to UFC 249, Justin Gaethje was not an advocate for accepting short-notice fights.
However, his philosophy changed when given an opportunity to win a UFC belt, and now, “The Highlight” will square off against Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight crown on May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida.
“I have conversations with my athletes and I follow their purpose. I’m the co-pilot, they’re the driver,” Gaethje’s coach, Trevor Wittman, told ESPN. “His goal was never to take a short-notice fight. But he’s purposeful, and he wanted a world title, he’s been training for a world title, and that’s his purpose now.