ROUGH JUSTICE
JUSTIN GAETHJE beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 after being ordered to stop punching him so hard.
The 31-year-old delivered an impressive performance to knock out Ferguson in the main event in Jacksonville.
3
3
And footage from BT Sport's Corner Cam has shown "The Highlight" receiving a key piece of advice at the end of the second round.
Coach Trevor Wittman was critical of his man's strategy, believing that he was trying to hit Ferguson too hard.
He said: "Take ten per cent off your shots... You're trying to kill him! Pop him with good, clean shots, OK?"
The advice worked wonders, with the American instead focusing more on delivering accurate, piercing blows rather than just all out power.
And it worked a treat, with referee Herb Dean calling a halt to the fight in the fifth round with Ferguson having to be taken to hospital for his gruesome injuries.
And in pictures posted online, fans can see the extent of the damage to El Cucuy's broken orbital bone that has caused his left eye to almost completely swell shut.
He can also be seen covered in cuts and bruises, while his hospital gown is splattered with blood.
LIVE: UFC 249 - LATEST REACTION AND UPDATES
This statement victory sees Gaethje usurp Ferguson as No1 in line to face reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
At 36, Ferguson will be left wondering if he will ever get his shot at the Russian, having seen the match-up fall through an astonishing five times.
And he was understandably not happy in the immediate aftermath of Saturday night's battle.
3
MOST READ IN SPORT
When Dean stopped the fight, Gaethje approached his bloodied opponent and attempted to embrace him.
But Ferguson instead sulkily ignored the hug and shoved his opponent away.
Gaethje then scathingly told him: “Being an a**hole gets you nowhere.”