The number second-ranked UFC Lightweight fighter and former UFC title contender, Justin Gaethje stamped his authority for the next UFC title shot with a thrilling win over the number fifth-ranked UFC Lightweight fighter, Michael Chandler at the opening fight of UFC 268 main card.
Gaethje was determined to riot after the fight if he loses the title shot to Islam Makhachev. He hasn’t heard anything from any UFC officials until now but Justin Gaethje believes it isn’t even necessary because, after his impressive win over Chandler, he is the only option available for the title shot.
In his latest interview with MMA Junkie, Gaethje says, “I don’t need to hear anything, I do not. I already know. I’m not going to – those are the things I can’t control, you know? I did what I had to do to control the situation. Outside that, I have no more control now. It would be all on the fans, the journalists, the integrity. That has to be questioned.”
“People respect us because it’s not boxing because the best fights happen. I have to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier to justify the integrity of this sport, and I’m comfortable with that. I don’t need to do anything else.” {h/t MMA Junkie}
Justin Gaethje believes there can be no justification for giving the title shot to Islam Makhachev
‘The Highlight’ won the fight of the night bonus for his scrap against Chandler and he believes there is no way UFC can justify giving Makhachev the next title shot before him. Justin Gaethje added,
“If you say ‘no disrespect’ to him, you would have to understand how disrespectful you’d be being if you thought in any way that he deserved that, you know?”
“He fought No. 14, went to No. 5, and he fought a late replacement with Dan Hooker. There’s no world in which, in the integrity of this sport, he would deserve, you know, or justify him doing that.” {h/t MMA Junkie}
