UFC Hall of Famer believes Gaethje can dethrone Khabib at UFC 254


UFC Hall of Famer believes Gaethje can dethrone Khabib at UFC 254

Justin Gaethje Vs Khabib

UFC Hall of Famer Bas “El Guapo” Rutten

UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten believes Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov would not be undefeated for long. The undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion fights Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje at UFC 254. The Hall of Famer believes Gaethje could pull off an upset if he goes back to his wrestling routes.

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With this win, Khabib would like to have his last fight against George St. Pierre who is arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. The fight might also serve as his farewell fight after “The Eagle” has found it hard to come to terms with his father’s demise. Gaethje. on the other hand looks forward to claim the Lightweight title and defeat not just Khabib, but McGregor too.

Rutten on Justin Gaethje

Speaking on Submission Radio, Rutten said, “I think [Gaethje] could be the guy who beats [Khabib],” Rutten said. “I truly believe so, because he’s a great wrestler – he might stop the takedowns. Listen, the best thing that ever happened to Gaethje was getting knocked out, because I had been telling him at the World Series of Fighting and PFL so many times, ‘Why do you fight like this?’ [He said], ‘Because it’s exciting and I want to be here for the fans.’ And I said, ‘Dude, eventually it’s going to hurt you. You want to be able to speak to your kids when you’re going to have kids, right?”

Rutten who had an amazing 22 fight win streak before he hung his gloves believes that Justin getting knocked out was the best thing that could have happened to him. Getting KO’d made him calmer and better.

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“When he got knocked out, now, suddenly, he starts fighting like his coach Trevor Wittman really wants. The way he was with Ferguson, that was scary. I was afraid for Ferguson. He started shaking his head, I thought, oh, he’s got brain damage. He got hit so hard, and nobody’s been able to stop him.”

Looking at the changes made by Gaethje in his annihilation towards Ferguson, Gaethje could be the X factor that could make Khabib suffer for the first time his MMA career.

“So now, Khabib is going to face someone with endless stamina, a freakin’ heart as big as a lion. Even if he’s tired, he will do the craziest things. He’s got great low kicks, he’s got great takedown defense, and who knows, man? He’s really started thinking later in his career, and that’s why you see him shine now. Maybe he’s going to shoot for a takedown. You don’t know what he’s going to do, because he’s never done it before.”

Rutten’s advice for the challenger, Gaethje

“I think that if Gaethje can do that as well with his low kicks; I wouldn’t do that in the beginning especially, because that might set him up to be taken down,” he said. “But now we’re going to find out if we can stop the takedowns from Khabib, and if he can Khabib is in trouble.

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“He know’s he’s got the endless stamina. So he’s going to push this fight. Khabib’s probably the guy who works everybody in the gym, so he needs to find ways to get him really tired, because otherwise, he’s playing his game and is still in his zone.

“I think if Gathje is pushing, pushing, pushing, and once [Khabib] gets tired, and that’s the moment you want to start implementing the low kicks. Like in rounds three or four, once they start getting tired, because Khabib – I think nobody has ever fought a guy like Gaethje. This guy just comes forward the whole time and everything is power, and he’s got endless stamina. He’s a very hard guy to fight.”

Post UFC 254

Gaethje, McGregor and Nurmagomedov

Khabib suffered a great loss last month when his father, coach and mentor Abdulnap Nurmagomedov passed away due to severe illness. His fight with “The Highlight” might be one of his last two fights. Whether he wins or not, the MMA community wants Khabib to fight George St. Pierre next. Arguably considered as the greatest of all time, St. Pierre may or may not be retired with this fight if scheduled would become one of the biggest fights of all time.

On the other hand, if Justin Gaethje wins, he would like to fight Conor McGregor and cement his legacy to become the first person to beat the two most popular and toughest guys in MMA.

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Also Read: “I know I’m gonna see blood”, claims Gaethje ahead of his fight with Khabib at UFC 254.