Former WSOF lightweight champion and current UFC lightweight contender, Justin Gaethje feels that he might be the champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s toughest stylistic match. Gaethje feels this way because of his high level NCAA Division 1 wrestling credentials and his good stand-up skills and knockout power. However, Nurmagomedov’s coach, American Kickboxing Academy’s, Javier Mendez has brushed off the threat that Gaethje possess.
Mendez stated on MMA Fighting’s, The MMA Hour that no one can stop Khabib’s takedowns and the only way a fight can be interesting, if Khabib himself decides to stand up and fight like he did against Conor McGregor at UFC 228. Here’s what he had to say:
Not much. Not much, because he ain’t going to be able to stop the takedown. None of those guys can. [Nurmagomedov will] take them all down, and if they don’t have much of a ground game, they’re done.
The only way it becomes interesting is if Khabib decides to do things. Look back on all his fights, it’s only when he decides to stand with people that it becomes a little bit trickier. I mean, he stood with Conor (McGregor) so he gave Conor a chance, and I’m begging for him, ‘Go back to father’s plan. Go back to father’s plan.’ He screws with me all the time. He did the same with Michael Johnson. I’m telling him, ‘What are you doing? Go back to father’s plan.’ Father’s plan, that’s what I call ‘just wrestle the guy, take him down and wrestle him.’ And he does that all the damn time.
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