In-Depth UFC 249 Breakdown: Khabib Nurmagomedov Vs. Justin Gaethje

When we're talking about the grappling aspect of this fight, most of the focus will be on Ferguson. While Gaethje is certainly a talented wrestler who has the ability to take his opponents down, he mostly uses his wrestling to keep the fight standing so he can batter opponents on the feet. There's very little about him offensively that actually involves grappling.

El Cucuy, however, is the complete opposite in that realm. When it comes to the ground game, the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu black belt is an absolute nightmare for any opponent who ends up down there with him. When most fighters get a takedown and end up in the top position, you'll often see them use it as an opportunity to catch their breath. However, doing that against someone as active Ferguson would be a massive mistake for anyone.

The 36-year old proves that the guard isn't dead, it's just not being used well by other fighters at his level. Ferguson is fantastic at chaining submission attempts, sweeps and elbows together to make sure his opponent is constantly on the defensive.

This creates scrambles and, more importantly, openings that allow him to find submissions, specifically his patented D'arce choke and many others. The fact that he's such a threat on the ground is also a massive benefit to his striking, as it allows him to be a little more risky with his shots as taking him down won't put him at a disadvantage.