Ultra-confident Justin Gaethje says he is ready for the “biggest fight of my life” when he takes on the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov this month in their lightweight unification bout at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.
Interim champion Gaethje, 31, faces the greatest test of almost a decade in mixed martial arts, in the headline encounter at Flash Forum on October 24.
Nurmagomedov holds the main lightweight belt and remains undefeated in all 28 bouts, and is 12-0 in the UFC alone. Gaethje, meanwhile, set up his shot at the title when he dominated Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May – as a late replacement for Nurmagomedov.
The American stopped his opponent late in the fifth round in Jacksonville, Florida, snapping Ferguson’s eight-year, 12-fight winning streak. With the win, he took his own pro record to 22-2.
And, speaking on Thursday night during a conference call with media, Gaethje was in little doubt as to what October 24 represents.
“It’s the biggest fight of my life – absolutely. There’s no doubt about it,” Gaethje said. “I’m not going to let outside influences influence the way I need to think or act or prepare.
"It’s really just staying true to my belief, which is be better than yesterday, make better choices than yesterday. I’ve been doing that for eight weeks, and I’ve got three and a half more. I’ll be ready as I possibly can be.
“I’m going to try and beat him into submission. I want him to quit. I want him to know I’m a superior athlete, a superior man. That’s the goal of this game.”
Despite Nurmagomedov’s domination of the division, Gaethje is one of the sport’s most explosive fighters. In seven UFC outings - his record stands at 5-2 - he has claimed nine performance bonuses, while his nickname is "The Highlight".
Little wonder, then, that he has the conviction to match the combat skills.
“My confidence is probably my biggest factor right now,’ Gaethje said. “Paired with the power that I possess, paired with the coach that I have. That’s a dangerous combination.
"I don’t care if I win or lose. At the end of the day, as long as I make my family happy, as long as I’m proud of my performance, then it doesn’t matter. That’s what makes me most dangerous. I don’t know if he’s ever fought someone like that – he probably has.
“And another factor is a lot of hard work, a lot of skill and a little bit of luck in this game. Anybody can go to sleep. He’s a fool if he doesn’t think he can go to sleep.”
A talented wrestling in his college days, Gaethje recognises Nurmagomedov’s almost impenetrable ground game, but says he will not adopt any massively different approach for the clash. Controlling the distance and footwork would be key, he said.
“Just be my best," Gaethje said. "I’m explosive, I’m athletic. I’m going to rely on the skills that I possess, that I’ve been honing since I was four. So I’m going to go keep relying on hard work and smart choices.
"I have to fight an incredible fight. At this level you have to be perfect, you cannot make mistakes. If he wants to go in there and throw caution to the wind then it’s not a smart plan. If I want to do the same it’s absolutely stupid.
"And I possess some serious power and I’ve got to touch him and put him to sleep."
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Khabib watches UAE Warriors 12 in Dubai
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UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov watches the UAE Warriors in Dubai. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Chi Lewis-Parry lands one on Fabio Maldonado.UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Chi Lewis-Parry after his victory over Fabio Maldonado. UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Chi Lewis-Parry, left, retains the UAE Warriors heavyweight title.UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Korean Kim Kyung-pyo holds Uzbek Shamil Aminov in a triangle choke.UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Kim Kyung-pyo celebrates after his first round win over Shamil Aminov.UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Piotre Walawski gets one past Tarek Suleiman’s defence in the middleweight. UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Manon Fiorot lands a blow on Naomi Tataroglu. UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Casey O’Neill arrives for her fight. UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Casey O’Neill pins down Christina Stelliou. UAE Warriors 13 at The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewaters in Dubai, September 25, 2020. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov watches the UAE Warriors in Dubai. Courtesy UAE Warriors
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Nurmagomedov, who has not fought since September last year, has been in Duabi for the past couple of weeks training for the match-up.
Asked on Thursday if that would be an advantage come fight night, Gaethje said: “I think if I allow it to become a factor then it can be. But it’s fight or flight. When my life’s on the line, when I’m in danger I’m going to fight. I was born for this. So we can fight whenever.”
UFC 254 brings down the curtain on “Return to Fight Island”, the fifth and final event of the UFC’s second residency in Abu Dhabi.
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Gaethje beats Ferguson at UFC 249
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Justin Gaethje lands a shot on Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP -
Justin Gaethje of the United States celebrates after defeating compatriot Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249 at VyStar. Getty -
Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Getty -
Justin Gaethje punches Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP -
Justin Gaethje lands a blow on Tony Ferguson during their fight at UFC 249. Reuters -
Tony Ferguson kicks Justin Gaethje in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP -
Justin Gaethje lands a punch on Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. Reuters -
Justin Gaethje punches Tony Ferguson in their interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP -
Henry Cejudo, left, of the United States is announced winner over compatriot Dominick Cruz of their bantamweight title fight during UFC 249. AFP -
Henry Cejudo, left, fights Dominick Cruz in an all-American fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP -
Henry Cejudo poses with his bantamweight title belt won at the UFC 249 on Saturday night in Florida. AFP -
Jeremy Stephens, right, of the United States fights fellow American Calvin Kattar in their featherweight bout at UFC 249. AFP -
Calvin Kattar, left, knocks down Jeremy Stephens at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP -
Anthony Pettis, right, kicks Donald Cerrone in their welterweight fight during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP -
Members of the media watch the Heavyweight fight between Aleksei Oleinik of Russia and Fabricio Werdum of Brazil during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP -
Calvin Kattar punches Jeremy Stephens even as his rival falls at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. AFP -
Greg Hardy, right, of the United States punches Yorgan De Castro of Cape Verde in their UFC 249 heavyweight fight. AFP -
Anthony Pettis, left, and Donald Cerrone during their welterweight fight in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP
