UFC 249: Justin Gaethje sets sights on Khabib Nurmagomedov after impressive TKO win over Tony Ferguson

The American produced a hugely dominant performance to inflict a first defeat in 13 fights on his compatriot

Justin Gaethje lands a shot on Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP

Justin Gaethje of the United States celebrates after defeating compatriot Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249 at VyStar. Getty

Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Getty

Justin Gaethje punches Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP

Justin Gaethje lands a blow on Tony Ferguson during their fight at UFC 249. Reuters

Tony Ferguson kicks Justin Gaethje in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP

Justin Gaethje lands a punch on Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. Reuters

Justin Gaethje punches Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP

Henry Cejudo, left, of the United States is announced winner over compatriot Dominick Cruz of their bantamweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP

Henry Cejudo, left, fights Dominick Cruz in an all-American fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

Henry Cejudo poses with his bantamweight title belt won at the UFC 249 on Saturday night in Florida. AFP

Jeremy Stephens, right, of the United States fights fellow American Calvin Kattar in their featherweight bout at UFC 249. AFP

Calvin Kattar, left, knocks down Jeremy Stephens at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

Anthony Pettis, right, kicks Donald Cerrone in their welterweight fight during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

Members of the media watch the Heavyweight fight between Aleksei Oleinik of Russia and Fabricio Werdum of Brazil during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

Calvin Kattar punches Jeremy Stephens even as his rival falls at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. AFP

Greg Hardy, right, of the United States punches Yorgan De Castro of Cape Verde in their UFC 249 heavyweight fight. AFP

Anthony Pettis, left, and Donald Cerrone during their welterweight fight in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

Newly crowned interim champion Justin Gaethje called out Khabib Nurmagomedov following a career-highlight victory against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on Sunday.

The American, who went into the headline bout in Jacksonville, Florida as a slight underdog, defeated Ferguson by TKO in the fifth round in a hugely dominant performance.

Ferguson, significantly bloodied and bruised by the conclusion, suffered his first loss in 13 fights - a run stretching back eight years.

Gaethje is now expected to face undefeated lightweight champion Nurmagomedov next, with the fight maybe even taking place in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Speaking in the octagon immediately afterwards, Gaethje said:  "There's no other challenge I want right now. I want to fight him."

Ngannou lands KO of the night

Despite the absence of a crowd, the fights that made up UFC 249 lacked nothing in intensity, with Francis Ngannou scoring the knockout of the night, blitzing Jairzinho Rozenstruik with a left hook to force a stoppage after just 20 seconds of the first round.

Sam Alvey was the first fighter into the empty arena on the night, pointing and high-fiving the imaginary crowd as he made his way to the cage where he fell to a decision loss to Ryan Spann in the evening's opening fight on the prelim card.

Apart from the fighters, the referees and the commentators, event staff wore face masks and only one corner-man per fighter was allowed into the cage in the breaks between rounds.

"It was funny, I could hear a lot. Everybody out there I could hear really clearly, but at the same time ... it wasn't much different than if the crowd were there," Vicente Luque told reporters following his stoppage win over Niko Price.

Such was the silence that Luque was able to hear the commentators, and heavyweight Greg Hardy said he was able to take the advice of TV commentator Daniel Cormier to counter Yorgan De Castro's leg kicks en route to a decision victory.

Cejudo calls it a day

In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo retained his bantamweight belt with a second-round stoppage win over Dominick Cruz before immediately retiring in the octagon. The 33-year-old, who won a gold medal for wrestling at the 2008 Olympics, has said he was happy with his career and that he wanted to start a family.

Returning after a long layoff, former champ Cruz was dropped with a knee to the head and suffered the first knockout of his career with just two seconds left in the second round.

However, the biggest prize of the night went to Gaethje, who is now next in line to face Nurmagomedov for the undisputed lightweight crown.

"I'll wait for the real one," Gaethje said as he tossed the interim belt aside moments after it was put around his waist.