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Stephen A. Smith Makes Bizarre COVID-19 Claim About UFC 249 Main-Event And Fans Can't Believe It

Stephen A. Smith Makes Bizarre COVID-19 Claim About UFC 249 Main-Event And Fans Can't Believe It

The ESPN analyst shared his thoughts on the epic clash between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Stephen A. Smith believes Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje avoided grappling during their UFC 249 clash due to COVID-19 fears.

Ferguson and Gaethje battled it out for five rounds on their feet with 'The Highlight' earning the stoppage victory to claim the interim-UFC lightweight title.

And Smith reckons there was a reason for that tactic as both fighters didn't want to contract the coronavirus.

Speaking on ESPN, he said: "There was so much striking I was surprised there wasn't a little bit more wrestling.

"Then I remembered with the coronavirus pandemic coming on, in my mind my attitude is that guys were a bit reluctant to grapple as little as necessary."

Smith made headlines in the MMA world in January when he slammed Donald Cerrone's performance against Conor McGregor.

And his latest controversial take sent social media wild.

"My god can this dude just stick to NBA and NFL man," one social media user wrote.

A second tweeted: "Every time this guy opens his mouth about MMA, he sounds dumber than the time before."

A third added: "This might be the worst take ive ever heard in all of MMA."

Image: PA
Image: PA

UFC 249 was the first major sports event since the global pandemic with the MMA leaders also holding an event on Wednesday.

They'll stage their third show in a week on Saturday when Alistair Overeem faces Walt Harris in a heavyweight bout.

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Topics: UFC News, Stephen A. Smith, Tony Ferguson, Fight News, UFC, MMA, UFC 249