Ultra-confident Justin Gaethje says he is ready for the “biggest fight of my life” when he takes on the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov this month in their lightweight unification bout at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. Interim champion Gaethje, 31, faces the greatest test of almost a decade in mixed martial arts, in the headline encounter at Flash Forum on October 24. Nurmagomedov holds the main lightweight belt and remains undefeated in all 28 bouts, and is 12-0 in the UFC alone. Gaethje, meanwhile, set up his shot at the title when he <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/other-sport/ufc-249-justin-gaethje-sets-sights-on-khabib-nurmagomedov-after-impressive-tko-win-over-tony-ferguson-1.1017169">dominated Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May</a> – as a late replacement for Nurmagomedov. The American stopped his opponent late in the fifth round in Jacksonville, Florida, snapping Ferguson’s eight-year, 12-fight winning streak. With the win, he took his own pro record to 22-2. And, speaking on Thursday night during a conference call with media, Gaethje was in little doubt as to what October 24 represents. “It’s the biggest fight of my life – absolutely. There’s no doubt about it,” Gaethje said. “I’m not going to let outside influences influence the way I need to think or act or prepare. "It’s really just staying true to my belief, which is be better than yesterday, make better choices than yesterday. I’ve been doing that for eight weeks, and I’ve got three and a half more. I’ll be ready as I possibly can be. “I’m going to try and beat him into submission. I want him to quit. I want him to know I’m a superior athlete, a superior man. That’s the goal of this game.” Despite Nurmagomedov’s domination of the division, Gaethje is one of the sport’s most explosive fighters. In seven UFC outings - his record stands at 5-2 - he has claimed nine performance bonuses, while his nickname is "The Highlight". Little wonder, then, that he has the conviction to match the combat skills. “My confidence is probably my biggest factor right now,’ Gaethje said. “Paired with the power that I possess, paired with the coach that I have. That’s a dangerous combination. "I don’t care if I win or lose. At the end of the day, as long as I make my family happy, as long as I’m proud of my performance, then it doesn’t matter. That’s what makes me most dangerous. I don’t know if he’s ever fought someone like that – he probably has. “And another factor is a lot of hard work, a lot of skill and a little bit of luck in this game. Anybody can go to sleep. He’s a fool if he doesn’t think he can go to sleep.” A talented wrestling in his college days, Gaethje recognises Nurmagomedov’s almost impenetrable ground game, but says he will not adopt any massively different approach for the clash. Controlling the distance and footwork would be key, he said. “Just be my best," Gaethje said. "I’m explosive, I’m athletic. I’m going to rely on the skills that I possess, that I’ve been honing since I was four. So I’m going to go keep relying on hard work and smart choices. "I have to fight an incredible fight. At this level you have to be perfect, you cannot make mistakes. If he wants to go in there and throw caution to the wind then it’s not a smart plan. If I want to do the same it’s absolutely stupid. "And I possess some serious power and I’ve got to touch him and put him to sleep." <strong>____________________</strong> <strong>____________________</strong> Nurmagomedov, who has not fought since September last year, has been in Duabi for the past couple of weeks training for the match-up. Asked on Thursday if that would be an advantage come fight night, Gaethje said: “I think if I allow it to become a factor then it can be. But it’s fight or flight. When my life’s on the line, when I’m in danger I’m going to fight. I was born for this. So we can fight whenever.” UFC 254 brings down the curtain on “Return to Fight Island”, the fifth and final event of the UFC’s second residency in Abu Dhabi. <strong>__________________</strong>
