Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/reuters
Should that be ten percent less intensity? Justin Gaethje (left) against Tony Ferguson
As in boxing, the champions of the individual weight classes are also awarded with belts in the UFC martial arts league. Lightweight Justin Gaethje also got one on his belt after his success against Tony Ferguson in early May. But: Gaethje was not named the actual champion of the weight class, but has been listed with the addition of »Interim« since then.
He took off the belt while still in the ring. When asked by commentator Joe Rogan whether he might not want the insignia, Gaethje replied dryly: “I’m waiting for the real one.” This “real one” is still owned by Chabib Nurmagomedow. Due to the corona pandemic, he was unable to defend his title at this time.
So far: Next Saturday, the US-American Gaethje (record: 22 wins, two defeats) will meet the still unbeaten 32-year-old (28-0) from the Russian Federation of Dagestan in Abu Dhabi. A victory would be the culmination of an amazing development for 31 year old Gaethje.
Gaethje came to the UFC in 2017, the best and most famous league for mixed martial arts, “the most brutal and entertaining fighter,” as his coach Trevor Wittman said ESPN formulated. It is not for nothing that Gaethje calls herself »The Highlight«. On his debut, he also celebrated a spectacular knockout success.
However, there were two defeats in no less spectacular fights. Then Wittman asked his protégé if he still wanted to be the most exciting fighter in the world. “Not really, coach. I want to become champion «, Gaethje is said to have replied.
So the two of them worked to give Gaethje’s madness more method to curb the almost frightening intensity. The success against Ferguson was the highlight of this venture. Gaethje should subtract ten percent intensity from his punches, Wittman gave him during a lap break on the way. The student obeyed and won a technical knockout.
Advice that his rival Nurmagomedow shared with Kevin Iole von Yahoo Sports considered crucial. He is also “inspired” by Gaethje’s footwork and his boxing qualities. Gaethje himself cannot answer where his abilities with his fists come from. Compared to Iole, he blames it on, among other things, his genetic predispositions. In any case, he would not have boxed seriously before his mixed martial arts career. “Except for one or two brawls in college.” It is all the more surprising that this ability occupies such an important place in his repertoire. In addition, Gaethje is an excellent wrestler; He has been practicing this sport since childhood and has fought at a high level in high school and college.
It is this mixture, according to UFC President Dana White, that makes Gaethje a dangerous opponent for Nurmagomedow. With all the praise for Gaethje, Nurmagomedov remains the favorite in this encounter. His skills as a wrestler have given the Russian a dominance seldom seen before. If it hits the floor or against the edge of the cage, it will be very difficult for Gaethje.
A win against one of the UFC’s biggest stars would bring Gaethje into a new financial sphere. In the Morning Kombat podcast, he was asked whether he had thought about it before. No, said Gaethje. But he would like to enable his mother to retire earlier.
