UFC 249: Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje aren't prepared for Khabib's grappling - Rockhold
EXCLUSIVE - Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje will vie for the interim lightweight title this evening.
Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje aren't prepared for the unique grappling skillset Khabib Nurmagomedov brings to the table, according to the UFC lightweight champion's American Kickboxing Academy team-mate Luke Rockhold.
Ferguson and Gaethje will lock horns with one another early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 249, which will take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Whoever emerges victorious from the battle of fan favourites will be crowned interim lightweight champion and earn a unification fight with undisputed king Nurmagomedov.
Stylistically, Ferguson and Gaethje - who both have extensive wrestling backgrounds - would be highly intriguing opponents for Nurmagomedov.
Ferguson's unique skill set, in particular, is one many believe would give the Russian serious problems.
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Once he's on top, once he's in position; they really aren't prepared for what he brings there
Rockhold, Nurmagomedov's long-time AKA team-mate, believes both Ferguson and Gatheje do have a chance of handing 'The Eagle' his first professional loss, though he reckons their best tools would slowly but surely be worn down by the Dagestani.
"Everyone has a chance," Rockhold told Express Sport. "Both of them have a chance, but it's going to be early on.
"The more Khabib gets a hold of them, it's going to take away everything they have.
"Every skill and every weapon they have is going to slow down. Khabib is a different level of grappling to these guys."
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In Rockhold's opinion, Nurmagomedov's crushing top game and ability to sap the will out of his opponents will be too much for either Ferguson or Gaethje to handle.
The former UFC and Strikeforce champion added: "When he's on top - I'm sure they've got decent wrestling and there'll be a back-and-forth within that.
"But I see Khabib, obviously, getting the fight on to where he wants. And once he's on top, once he's in position; they really aren't prepared for what he brings there."
Luke Rockhold spoke to Express Sport ahead of the release of Cagefighter: Worlds Collide. Cagefighter is available on FITE in the UK on May 16 where Rockhold stars as one of the lead characters in a film where MMA meets professional wrestling.
UFC 249 fight card
Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje (interim lightweight title fight)
Henry Cejudo vs Dominick Cruz (men's bantamweight title fight)
Francis Ngannou vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight bout)
Jeremy Stephens vs Calvin Kattar (men's featherweight bout)
Greg Hardy vs Yorgan de Castro (heavyweight bout)
Prelims
Donald Cerrone vs Anthony Pettis (welterweight bout)
Alexey Oleynik vs Fabricio Werdum (heavyweight bout)
Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson (women's strawweight bout)
Uriah Hall vs Ronaldo Souza (middleweight bout)
Vicente Luque vs Niko Price (welterweight bout)
Bryce Mitchell vs Charles Rosa (men's featherweight bout)
Ryan Spann vs Sam Alvey (light-heavyweight bout)