USA Wrestling athletes, coaches, staff pick the Main Event winners for UFC 249
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Wrestling fans enjoy picking the winners in major wrestling events, selecting who they think will win big matches and telling others why they are right. It is one of the fun parts about being a fan.
We decided to give USA Wrestling National Team athletes and coaches, as well as our Communications staff the chance to pick the winners of the two main event bouts at UFC 249 in Florida on Saturday night. Some took us up on the offer, because so many wrestlers are Mixed Martial Arts fans themselves.
We asked for their picks of the Main Event, Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, as well as the Co-Main Event, Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz. All four of these athletes are wrestlers, and when you listen to them, they are proud of coming from a wrestling background.
Since I am writing this, we will list the people making the picks in alphabetical order, by last name. That way, I get to give mine first. We will tally it all up at the end of the article.
GARY ABBOTT, Communications Director
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: Well, I went to grad school at Northern Colorado and Gaethje was an All-American there, so I have got to go with the UNC Bear wrestler. Plus Gaethje seems ready to step it up.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why: With Cejudo, it is hard for me to ever bet against him. He said he would win the Olympics and he did. He said he would be UFC champion and he did it at two weights. Plus, Cruz hasn't fought for a few years.
JENNA BURKERT, Women’s freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Because there’s something about the craziness of Tony. Always on the relentless pursuit. It takes a lot to continually be in the hunt for the Number 1 spot. Always willing to take ANY fight. Anywhere. I have respect for that, so I’m taking Tony.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: I know I know. I’m going to get criticized for that. I’m taking the underdog. Cruz is hungry to prove a point.
KYVEN GADSON, Men's freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: I'm going with Gaethje. I just believe Gaethje is hungry right now. I believe that wrestler mindset will carry him a long ways. I almost always go for the wrestlers. That's what makes this next fight interesting.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: I'm choosing Cruz! Not sure why, just have this inkling. Should be interesting. I am probably picking Cruz because I'm tired of the King of Cringe foolery! But I'm going with Cruz!
ADELINE GRAY, Women’s Freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: It will be a good fight but the brawl I think Justin should come out on top.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: Dominick is a well-rounded fighter and I think will be able to take out the champ.
MACEY KILTY, Women’s Freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Once again they both have a wrestling background, but I'm going to go with Ferguson. Ferguson hasn't taken a loss since 2012 and is on 12-fight win streak, which is pretty impressive. I think Gaethje will give a good fight and has a chance if he can get into Ferguson early but otherwise I think Ferguson is just too good to go all 3 rounds with. If Ferguson wins, I can't wait for the big one against Khabib (hopefully) in the near future for the lightweight belt!
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: They both have a wrestling background, but I'm going to have to go with Cejudo. I was fortunate enough to train with the Cejudo family a couple years ago at Fight Ready gym and ever since, have been a huge fan. Plus, Henry is on a 5-fight win streak with his last 2 fights ending in KO/TKO. Don't get me wrong, Cruz definitely has a different style of fighting that can confuse his opponents but I believe that Henry is a lot more technical and will slow Cruz down which will eventually open up Cruz's weaknesses once the fight gets going. I definitely got Henry wining this one, and every other fight he takes!
NICO MEGALUDIS, Men's freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Gaethje is a bad dude and likes to go hard. He also can rebound from getting hit and beat up pretty hard but Ferguson is one of the best strikers out there and can match anyone’s pace and conditioning. His striking is just too skilled
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Cejudo is looking better each fight. I am not sure how Cruz will rebound with all the injuries he has had. Cejudo has been competing a lot lately and I think will be on point with all the experience he has racked up recently.
TAYLOR MILLER, Communications Manager
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: I don’t keep up a ton with UFC, but I remember watching Ferguson fight Pettis while we were at Who’s #1 in 2018, and it was super entertaining.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Also, gotta go Cejudo over Cruz. I was there in 2019 when Cejudo knocked out Dillashaw in less than a minute. When Cejudo wants a win, he gets a win. All hail the King of Cringe
JOE RUSSELL, Manager of Freestyle Programs
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Tony Ferguson, because he was coached by University of Minnesota NCAA Champions Marty Morgan and Brock Lesnar. He also trained with several University of Minnesota wrestlers when he was being coached by Brock and Marty.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Henry Cejudo, because I have watched him compete since he was a kid and he’s a blast to watch when the lights are bright.
KATHERINE SHAI, Women's freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: I’ll be rooting for Gaethje. He wrestled at UNC Greeley and I wrestle for the Northern Colorado WC. And although Ferguson has a lot of funk, I don’t think he will outlast Gaethje’s power.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Henry all the way! Cruz is a wild card because he hasnt competed in years. But I think Henry has got this. He’s got a strong mindset and team behind him.
MALLORY VELTE, Women’s freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: It will be a war. Nobody fights Gaethje and comes out unscathed.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: CRINGE MASTER. It's sacrilegious for any wrestler to not pick him.
MIKE WILLIS, Communications Coordinator
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: Ferguson can be a slow starter. That’s bad news against Gaethje. I think we see an early round KO from Gaethje off a counter punch.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: I’m also taking Cejudo. On principle, I don’t pick against Olympic champions. They know how to win.
Here is how our little informal poll came out.
In the Main Event, our panel had it very close, with six going for Ferguson and five going for Gaethje.
In the Co-Main Event, it was much more one-sided, with eight going for Cejudo and three going for Cruz.
Who do you have? Watch for a Twitter poll which will let our wrestling fans pick the winners
We decided to give USA Wrestling National Team athletes and coaches, as well as our Communications staff the chance to pick the winners of the two main event bouts at UFC 249 in Florida on Saturday night. Some took us up on the offer, because so many wrestlers are Mixed Martial Arts fans themselves.
We asked for their picks of the Main Event, Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, as well as the Co-Main Event, Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz. All four of these athletes are wrestlers, and when you listen to them, they are proud of coming from a wrestling background.
Since I am writing this, we will list the people making the picks in alphabetical order, by last name. That way, I get to give mine first. We will tally it all up at the end of the article.
GARY ABBOTT, Communications Director
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: Well, I went to grad school at Northern Colorado and Gaethje was an All-American there, so I have got to go with the UNC Bear wrestler. Plus Gaethje seems ready to step it up.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why: With Cejudo, it is hard for me to ever bet against him. He said he would win the Olympics and he did. He said he would be UFC champion and he did it at two weights. Plus, Cruz hasn't fought for a few years.
JENNA BURKERT, Women’s freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Because there’s something about the craziness of Tony. Always on the relentless pursuit. It takes a lot to continually be in the hunt for the Number 1 spot. Always willing to take ANY fight. Anywhere. I have respect for that, so I’m taking Tony.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: I know I know. I’m going to get criticized for that. I’m taking the underdog. Cruz is hungry to prove a point.
KYVEN GADSON, Men's freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: I'm going with Gaethje. I just believe Gaethje is hungry right now. I believe that wrestler mindset will carry him a long ways. I almost always go for the wrestlers. That's what makes this next fight interesting.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: I'm choosing Cruz! Not sure why, just have this inkling. Should be interesting. I am probably picking Cruz because I'm tired of the King of Cringe foolery! But I'm going with Cruz!
ADELINE GRAY, Women’s Freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: It will be a good fight but the brawl I think Justin should come out on top.
Cruz over Cejudo
Why?: Dominick is a well-rounded fighter and I think will be able to take out the champ.
MACEY KILTY, Women’s Freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Once again they both have a wrestling background, but I'm going to go with Ferguson. Ferguson hasn't taken a loss since 2012 and is on 12-fight win streak, which is pretty impressive. I think Gaethje will give a good fight and has a chance if he can get into Ferguson early but otherwise I think Ferguson is just too good to go all 3 rounds with. If Ferguson wins, I can't wait for the big one against Khabib (hopefully) in the near future for the lightweight belt!
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: They both have a wrestling background, but I'm going to have to go with Cejudo. I was fortunate enough to train with the Cejudo family a couple years ago at Fight Ready gym and ever since, have been a huge fan. Plus, Henry is on a 5-fight win streak with his last 2 fights ending in KO/TKO. Don't get me wrong, Cruz definitely has a different style of fighting that can confuse his opponents but I believe that Henry is a lot more technical and will slow Cruz down which will eventually open up Cruz's weaknesses once the fight gets going. I definitely got Henry wining this one, and every other fight he takes!
NICO MEGALUDIS, Men's freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Gaethje is a bad dude and likes to go hard. He also can rebound from getting hit and beat up pretty hard but Ferguson is one of the best strikers out there and can match anyone’s pace and conditioning. His striking is just too skilled
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Cejudo is looking better each fight. I am not sure how Cruz will rebound with all the injuries he has had. Cejudo has been competing a lot lately and I think will be on point with all the experience he has racked up recently.
TAYLOR MILLER, Communications Manager
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: I don’t keep up a ton with UFC, but I remember watching Ferguson fight Pettis while we were at Who’s #1 in 2018, and it was super entertaining.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Also, gotta go Cejudo over Cruz. I was there in 2019 when Cejudo knocked out Dillashaw in less than a minute. When Cejudo wants a win, he gets a win. All hail the King of Cringe
JOE RUSSELL, Manager of Freestyle Programs
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: Tony Ferguson, because he was coached by University of Minnesota NCAA Champions Marty Morgan and Brock Lesnar. He also trained with several University of Minnesota wrestlers when he was being coached by Brock and Marty.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Henry Cejudo, because I have watched him compete since he was a kid and he’s a blast to watch when the lights are bright.
KATHERINE SHAI, Women's freestyle
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: I’ll be rooting for Gaethje. He wrestled at UNC Greeley and I wrestle for the Northern Colorado WC. And although Ferguson has a lot of funk, I don’t think he will outlast Gaethje’s power.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: Henry all the way! Cruz is a wild card because he hasnt competed in years. But I think Henry has got this. He’s got a strong mindset and team behind him.
MALLORY VELTE, Women’s freestyle
Ferguson over Gaethje
Why?: It will be a war. Nobody fights Gaethje and comes out unscathed.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: CRINGE MASTER. It's sacrilegious for any wrestler to not pick him.
MIKE WILLIS, Communications Coordinator
Gaethje over Ferguson
Why?: Ferguson can be a slow starter. That’s bad news against Gaethje. I think we see an early round KO from Gaethje off a counter punch.
Cejudo over Cruz
Why?: I’m also taking Cejudo. On principle, I don’t pick against Olympic champions. They know how to win.
Here is how our little informal poll came out.
In the Main Event, our panel had it very close, with six going for Ferguson and five going for Gaethje.
In the Co-Main Event, it was much more one-sided, with eight going for Cejudo and three going for Cruz.
Who do you have? Watch for a Twitter poll which will let our wrestling fans pick the winners
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