Could Justin Gaethje be the man to hand Khabib Nurmagomedov his first loss?
While we won’t know that answer anytime soon, Dustin Poirier thinks that Gaethje could beat the UFC Lightweight Champion. While Nurmagomedov first has to get through Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, the former UFC Lightweight title contender believes that Gaethje’s wrestling knowledge and stand up game can outshine the undefeated lightweight (Transcript courtesy of
MMA Junkie):
“Off the top of my head right now, I think Justin Gaethje (could beat Nurmagomedov),” Poirier said on
“Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.”
“I think he might have the ability to keep his back off the fence and keep it in the middle, and if he does get taken down, scramble back up. I think guys like that who are going to take risks and brawl and have the hips and the wrestling knowledge to stay up would give him problems.”
While many expect Ferguson to be a tough challenge for Khabib on April 18, Poirier thinks that Nurmagomedov’s wrestling will ultimately get him the win:
“I think Khabib beats Ferguson,” Poirier said.
“It’s MMA, anything could happen, nothing’s for sure, but I just think he’s going to be the better competitor. I think if Kevin Lee was able to out-wrestle Tony, and I think Danny Castillo did the same thing, (Khabib is) definitely going to be able to do it.”