Having both faced the mentor, Justin Gaethje advises Dustin Poirier against the lean-in clinches and hard grappling of Islam Makhachev before their title fight at UFC 302.
Perennial lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has no regrets in the aftermath of his loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300. Before his BMF scrap, many fans thought “The Highlight” would challenge Islam Makhachev’s throne next. Now, Dustin Poirier meets Makhachev in the UFC 302 feature headliner on June 1st. Ahead of this, Gaethje has imparted some tactics to the title challenger.
Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 last July to win the vacant BMF silver strap. Finishing a then-29-fight stalwart, Gaethje had hoped this would get to earshot distance of title opportunity. He instead made a defense of the BMF belt. Now, he gives available input on the matter.
Well, we’ve both been there with Khabib…so we have an idea [that] they’re obviously not the same fighter…they don’t fight the same styles. But, you know…both really [have] heavy grappling…you just gotta trust in your ability to grapple for the whole fight…if you cardio is there, and you can survive those attacks, then eventually you’re going to be able to get back to you feet and cause damage… – Justin Gaethe to Kaz Crossley of Title Sports Network (@TitleSportsNetwork)
He and Dustin Poirier have faced and lost against the Dagestani’s longtime famed mentor – Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘Diamond’ opted for a guillotine choke without proper mount-and-wrap around Khabib at UFC 242. Losing that fight, Islam Makhachev is not concerned about the lightweight’s failed trials and his eccentric “permanent contender” status due to it. Similarly, after his Round 2 submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Khabib called quits on his illustrious career.
Gaethje advises that despite his raw and quick KO power, Makhachev also shoots for clinches and heavy grappling. He had lined himself up for a title shot after UFC 291. But post-UFC 300 bust, Makhachev’s AKA coach Javier Mendez thinks the most stylistic threat to his title reign is out of the UFC title picture. Such apt assessments go to show why Gaethje posed such a danger.