Justin Gaethje is currently #2 in the UFC’s lightweight division. He will clash against Michael Chandler in his next fight at UFC 268, which will take place in November.
Recently in an interview with Brett Okamoto, Gaethje shared his views on his next opponent, Chandler. The 32-year-old said, “I don’t dislike the guy. I think he is an attention wh**e for sure, you know, but that’s fine because it’s business, so I mean, he’s not wrong to even seek attention or anything.”
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He added, “I don’t know him, so I don’t like him he’s my enemy, and he’s trying to take everything I am. He’s gonna try to kill me on November 6th that’s what I am preparing myself for. That’s what, ultimately, I have to convince myself is the most real thing. So that I’m able to go to primal place.”
However, this is not the only thing ‘The Highlight’ talked about. He also discussed the lightweight division scenario when the former champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, vacated the belt.
Justin Gaethje says lightweight division was a laughing stock
The former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, vacated the lightweight gold after successfully defending it against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Right after that, the promotion set up Charles Oliveira and the newcomer, Michael Chandler.
The UFC left out the former interim lightweight champion, Gaethje, from the title scenario. This didn’t sit well with the (22-3) record holder. In the same interview, while talking about this, Justin Gaethje said, “I was probably more bitter at the opportunity that he got in favor of me, which is whatever you know it is what it is. Obviously, I’m gonna use that, you know, and I was pi**ed off at the time.”
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He added, “I thought this was the most coveted title in the UFC when Khabib was around, you know, and it was turned into almost the laughingstock of the UFC overnight. When you had Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler fighting each other for the title. You know, to be the best when those two weren’t, you know the best guys fighting for the belt. It was me and Poirier who should have been fighting for the belt. Number one, number two, that’s what is that’s what you know should have happened it’s gonna happen again.”
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Gaethje, who is now preparing to fight Michael Chandler, will look to cement his position in the lightweight gold race. And a win in the fight at UFC 268 will surely fast-track his journey to the belt.
What are your thoughts on Justin Gaethje’s words?