Justin Gaethje reveals his master plan to be first fighter to beat Khabib in UFC including brutal leg kicks – The Sun
JUSTIN GAETHJE plans to use brutal leg kicks and cardio in his bid to become the first UFC fighter ever to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The American destroyed Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in Florida on May 9 and now has the Russian champion in his sights.
The fight is not yet confirmed but the 31-year-old is desperate to match up against unbeaten Khabib and has a plan for how to beat him should that time come.
He told ESPN: "I'll work to be my best self. I'm so athletic.
"The first thing to go when you get tired is your legs, so my legs, from now until then, I'm going to be running a lot, jump rope a lot, a lot of step ups, squats.
"If my legs are in shape I don't get tired. If I don't get tired, I can get back up. If I can get back up, I can hit him like a truck.
"I have only got to kick him eight times in the calves before he's compromised. There's lots of factors. I'm going to work on being me, stay in shape. It's all cardio."
Flight restrictions meant Khabib had to pull out of his bout with Ferguson at the original UFC 249 and he was unable to attend the rescheduled event.
And Gaethje – who stepped in to beat Ferguson with a fifth round stoppage – has no doubt he will have to wait before he gets his shot at the 31-year-old lightweight champ.
When asked when he envisioned the Khabib bout taking place, he said: "I guess September, August. I want time.
"I couldn't even imagine being in his shoes … this will be the last thing on his mind right now, we'll let time pass and figure it out.
"That's the fight I want (rather than clash with Conor McGregor). I earned it. I deserve it. It's the only fight out there for me right now.
"I'm glad I have a little bit of a say, because one thing I want to focus on is bringing a little bit of legitimacy to the process.
"I want young guys to know, when you come to the UFC and you win, you fight someone in front of you. You lose, you fight someone behind you.
"And if you win enough times against ranked guys and get the interim title, then you fight for the belt.
"The NFL and NBA there are play-offs so they know how it works, there's an answer.
"We don't have that. So I'm glad I get a little bit of a say. That's the only fight that's right, that makes sense."
Elsewhere, UFC chief Dana White launched a furious rant at the media and called a New York Times reported a "d***head".
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