Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s reign in the UFC was nothing short of legendary. The Dagestani warrior retired with a perfect 29-0 record, a feat unheard of in modern MMA. His dominance wasn’t just in numbers—it was in the way he broke his opponents, imposing an unrelenting pressure that left even the toughest fighters helpless. Khabib’s grappling was his signature, but his mental strength was just as formidable. His late father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, instilled in him a discipline that kept him grounded despite his success.
However, unfortunately, he chose to discontinue fighting at the request of his mother following the demise of his father. In his last fight, the Dagestani fighter took on Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Gaethje is one of those fighters in the world of MMA who has earned a reputation for being extremely dangerous. His power and deadly low leg kicks are second to none in the sport. But all it took for ‘The Eagle’ was two rounds before submitting him and extending his unbeaten record.
‘The Highlight’ is all set to feature at UFC 313 next, but in a recent interview, he shared his experience of fighting ‘Eagle’. Xcellent MMA took to their Instagram account to share a conversation where the former BMF title holder pointed out why Nurmagomedov was a legend. The host of the show mentioned how a smaller cage would suit the way Gaethje fights. However, ‘The Highlight ‘ was quick to respond, “Not against Khabib.”
The former BMF title holder has faced many world-class fighters in his career. While he has been able to come out on top against most, ‘Eagle’ was a bit different. He further added, “Ya, right, any other century, any other. Give me any tool to poke a vital and I’m there. I was faster from A to B. If he’s gonna be able to grapple me then, yeah probably I am f..ed”
So, what could he have done a bit differently to have the smallest chance against the former lightweight champion? According to him, weapons, like in the early days. Gaethje further added, “Earlier, they fought with swords, picks, back in the day. Give me something I’ll poke an organ, I promise”.
The 36-year-old is all set to compete against the same opponent whom he previously defeated at UFC 286, Rafael Fiziev. ‘The Highlight’ is looking forward to his clash and is willing to put on a dominating performance. But why exactly is he hungry to prove himself despite achieving so much in the sport? It seems he wants to put up a case in front of the UFC for a fight against Islam Makhachev.
Justin Gaethje wants a shot at the title only if he wins his fight at UFC 313
The former BMF champion remains a high-profile contender, but he isn’t at the front of the line for a shot at the Dagestani powerhouse. Several names stand ahead of him in the title race—fighters like Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, and Ilia Topuria, all of whom have a stronger case for the next championship opportunity. More so in the UFC, winning isn’t always the important factor, rather it’s the way you win that matters. That’s exactly why Gaethje is approaching UFC 313 with urgency and an extra fire in his belly. As a former D1 wrestler, he understands that just winning won’t be enough to get him a title shot in the division.
To force his way into the title conversation, he needs to deliver something spectacular. This is what he exactly pointed out during a conversation with ‘TMZ Sports’ in a recent interview. The former BMF title holder said, “I mean that’d [a big finish] be ideal. I really want to, you know, have a great performance and really put some pressure on the UFC to allow me to fight Makhachev next. And I think, you know, an outstanding performance and a finish is something that puts me in that position. They obviously know that, you know, we’re only in this position because Dan Hooker broke his hand,”. Gaethje knows that he has a tough task ahead of him and considers Fiziev a very dangerous opponent.
However, he is more focused on getting a title shot and is willing to do anything to get that. Do you think he will win his fight at UFC 313? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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