Justin Gaethje hopes Tony Ferguson ‘breaks my nose with an elbow’ so the UFC pays to get it fixed
- ‘I haven’t been able to breathe through my nose for 12 years because of wrestling, so hopefully one of those elbows cracks my nose,’ says Gaethje
- Gaethje expects recipe for disaster because Ferguson ‘loves carnage and violence’ but ‘El Cucuy’ insists he doesn’t like hurting people
There wasn’t a hint of animosity between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje as they shared jokes and compliments on Tuesday night’s UFC 249 media conference call.
“I need my nose broken … I haven’t been able to breathe through my nose for 12 years because of wrestling, so hopefully one of those elbows cracks my nose, the UFC pays for that s***, and it’s an exciting ass fight,” Gaethje said.
The comment prompted a howl of laughter from Ferguson, who said “I love it – ‘insurance claim!’”.
“He’s got a lot of heart,” Ferguson admitted when pressed on Gaethje’s qualities, ahead of May 9’s interim lightweight title fight in Jacksonville, Florida.
“El Cucuy” didn’t want to be too gushing in his praise of his opponent – he has a reputation to maintain, after all, as the “bogeyman” of the UFC’s lightweight division.
