Justin
Gaethje is confident he’s next in line for a shot at the
lightweight title.
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Currently on a two-fight winning streak, “The Highlight” is coming
off an emphatic Round 2 knockout victory against perennial
lightweight contender Dustin
Poirier, which saw him secure the “BMF” title in July at UFC
291. Before that, the American took on one of the most vicious
strikers in the division in Rafael
Fiziev, and both fighters put on an exceptional showing of grit
and will. However, Gaethje) proved to be the more calculated and
cerebral fighter of the two, eventually securing a majority
decision triumph.
Interestingly, Gaethje recently confirmed that he was offered to
take on Islam
Makhachev on short notice for UFC 294. However, the former
interim champion chose to decline the opportunity, insinuating it
was too close to his last bout with Dustin
Poirier for him to make the turnaround.
During the same interaction following the UFC 294 ceremonial
weigh-ins, “The Highlight,” who will be in the corner of Kamaru
Usman this weekend, went on to reveal what’s next for him.
“I’m fighting the winner of Alexander
Volkanovski and Islam
Makhachev. I know that’s happening,” Gaethje told TNT Sports.
Asked if he’d prefer to take on Islam
Makhachev for the title considering the reigning champion’s
relationship with his former adversary, retired lightweight
Khabib
Nurmagomedov, Gaethje responded.
“I don’t think that’s as important to me as reaching my goal, which
is to become the undisputed lightweight champion,” he said. “I hold
no grudges, that’s not a fight I can get back. But I do think that
beating Islam
Makhachev would be legendary for my legacy.”
Should Gaethje’s assertions regarding him being next line for the
title shot prove to be true, it would mark his third time competing
for the undisputed title.
Gaethje’s first shot at the lightweight title came against
Nurmagomedov back in October 2020, when he suffered a Round 2
technical submission loss to the hands of the Dagestani phenom. His
second shot at the strap came against Brazil’s Charles
Oliveira at UFC 274 last year. In that bout, the Team Elevation
product suffered a Round 1 submission against “Do Bronx.”