When Michael Chandler costs Justin Gaethje’s abilities remarkably, he does not consider he’ll be the a person to dethrone Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Gaethje (28- MMA, 12- UFC) challenges light-weight champion Nurmagomedov (28- MMA, 12- UFC) in the UFC 254 principal function Oct. 24 in a battle that the freshly signed Chandler will provide as a backup for.
If Chandler (21-5 MMA, – UFC) doesn’t get to fill in for both fighter, he will most surely have his eyes on the matchup. It’s not guaranteed he’ll get an rapid title shot in his UFC debut, but the former a few-time Bellator light-weight winner is assured he sooner or later will cross paths with the winner, who in his eyes, will be Nurmagomedov.
On paper, many are assured that with Gaethje’s wrestling track record and knockout electric power, he will be Nurmagomedov’s toughest check to day. Chandler agrees, but thinks it’s tough to select versus the undefeated champion.
“I think Justin Gaethje seemed like the best light-weight in the world in May well when he fought Tony Ferguson,” Chandler advised ESPN. “That edition of Justin Gaethje, who stepped into that cage calm and composed and assured, wise and sharp, battling with the tenacity that he normally delivers to the cage, but not the overzealous, overanxious Justin Gaethje ‘I wanna rip your head off’ fighter that we’re utilised to viewing – that was the most effective variation of Justin Gaethje that we have at any time viewed.
“Now, you acquire into thing to consider that Justin Gaethje was a Division-I wrestler, you acquire into consideration that we have not seen his wrestling, but know he’s received fantastic athleticism, excellent hips, good instincts inside the cage – I consider he poses the finest danger that we have observed so far versus a man like Khabib. But I still imagine you are ridiculous if you do guess against Khabib.”
Following a rocky start to his UFC profession, Gaethje has a short while ago tamed his fashion, which has led to 4 straight finishes. He discovered achievements in staying the aggressor versus Tony Ferguson, but Chandler thinks Nurmagomedov will not let him dictate the speed.
“You’re insane if you wager against him not becoming equipped to just take Justin down,” Chandler stated. “You’re insane if you assume Justin is heading to be capable to go in there and land mixtures at will like he was Tony Ferguson. The explanation I like the Tony Ferguson combat is, he’s a standing focus on. He’s a stationary focus on. He takes punches in get to give punches later on on down the line.
“Khabib’s not that guy. Khabib is going to be in Justin’s deal with. We haven’t found Justin again up a ton. I feel Justin is likely to be preventing on his heels a whole lot, which is by no means anything we have found him equipped to do. His leg kicks will not be as effective on his heels. His electric power punches, his hooks, are not likely to be as helpful on his heels. And I consider we’re still heading to see, I won’t say dominant victory by Khabib, but I think we’re likely to see a large amount of the identical Khabib-esque form of struggle, just in a a lot less dominant fashion.”
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