Stephen A Smith Totally Called Justin Gaethje 'Garth' and MMA Twitter Was Not Having it
By Sam Dunn

Stephen A. Smith didn't make a ton of new friends in the mixed martial arts community when he suggested that record-setting fan favorite Donald Cerrone "quit" in his TKO loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 246 in January. Well, the ESPN pundit just put his foot in his very loud mouth once again, and MMA fans are not about to let it slide.
While Justin Gaethje took on Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 Saturday night, Stephen A. 100% referred to the former as "Garth."
Good Lord. Ferguson is getting hit with some shots. Garth came ready tonight He can really fight. Power in both hands. Good boxing skills. But Ferguson can take a punch.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 10, 2020
Honestly, this would be a cool nicknake for, say, a fighter with really long hair, or perhaps one who was really into heavy metal. Unfortunately, Gaethje has quite short hair and has never been called "Garth," even by accident, by any human person ever around.
Was it an innocent typo, or maybe an autocorrect? Sure, it's perfectly plausible. But don't expect Smith to get the benefit of the doubt after talking out of class about Cowboy Cerrone like he did.
As if you couldn’t make the MMA community more upset with you lol GARTH
— Rosa Parks’s Burner Account (@Rosasburner) May 10, 2020
Thank you, Rosa.
Who’s Garth mate
— Leipzig_fan (@CW08__) May 10, 2020
We have other questions, too. But let's start with this one.
GARTH?! pic.twitter.com/EEBey0BBKU
— Milan Addepalli (@heresthemils) May 10, 2020
ESPN should bring back "Cold Pizza."
one of the UFC's Most Dangerous men. pic.twitter.com/kjfc3Tr0h9
— BlkAnMild (@BlakAnMild) May 10, 2020
Party on, Stephen.
Just stop trying w/ MMA bruh
— Jimmy Lombardi (@JimmyLombo) May 10, 2020
That's a point deduction, Stevie.
Forgive the typo. I said Gaethje. It said Garth. But y’all know who I’m talking about :-)
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 10, 2020
Oh, isn't that convenient? Sure, man. Sure. Maybe just cut your losses and call it a night.
Wait, who are we kidding? Stephen A. will only double down here. It's who he is. It's what he does. And he gets paid a heck of a lot more than we do to keep doing exactly that.