Tony Ferguson took a terrible beating at the fists of Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 249 on Saturday night. At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White speculated that Ferguson making weight on the canceled April 18 date and then again on Friday could have been a factor.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Gaethje, because he fought an incredible fight,” said White as transcribed by Steven Marrocco for MMA Fighting. “But I thought Tony looked off tonight. I thought he looked slow, and I would have to imagine that cutting weight twice in a month will affect you. So I don’t know if that’s it or what.
“The guy isn’t human. He’s got a chin. Nobody takes Gaethje’s punches like that – nobody I’ve seen since I’ve been watching Gaethje fight. But this kid did.”
In a moment of dark irony, the stoppage was protested by Chuck Liddell, a fighter who appears to show the effects of being hit too much.
“Chuck Liddell is blowing me up saying that was a horrible stoppage, and that’s crazy,” said White. “I think the fight could have been stopped a little sooner.
“Tony took a lot of damage tonight. Not only did he take a lot of damage, he took damage from a guy who f***ing hits like a truck, a guy who hits very hard, and usually knocks people unconscious when he hits people. So I actually think the stoppage was great, and I think it could have been stopped sooner.”