UFC 254: Khabib Nurmagomedov says Justin Gaethje must be ready to face everything in lightweight title clash in Abu Dhabi

Khabib Nurmagomedov says his superior fighting intelligence and conditioning will ensure he sees off Justin Gaethje in their title clash at this month’s UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.

And the undefeated lightweight champion predicts it will not go past four rounds.

Nurmagomedov, who has not competed in more than a year, puts his belt on the line in the highly anticipated unification bout at Flash Forum on October 24, the highlight of the closing event at Fight Island.

The Russian fighter last entered the octagon at UFC 242 in September last year, when he defeated then-interim champion Dustin Poirier, also in Abu Dhabi. It took his professional record to 28-0 (12-0 in UFC).

On October 24, he takes on reigning interim title-holder Gaethje who, given his power and wrestling pedigree, could provide Nurmagomedov's greatest challenge to date.

But speaking on Thursday night during the official media day for UFC 254, the Russian said: “I don’t think it’s going to be a chess match.

"I think my fighting IQ is much better than Justin Gaethje. He’s just a tough guy. He likes fighting, he likes blood. He’s a real warrior.

“Of course Justin can fight, he can go deep and he has heart. But when we talk fighting IQ, mine is much better than he has.”

Asked to predict the outcome of the fight, Nurmagomedov replied: “Nothing's changed. I’m going to try wrestling with him.

"If he’s going defend the fence, defend my takedown one time, I’m going to try second, third, 100 times.

“And of course, I’m going to box with him, I’m going to kick with him. It’s going to be kickboxing and wrestling mixed.

"My goal is to make him tired. I’m going to make him tired. And maybe in round No 3 or round No 4 it’s my time is to finish him.

“We all know about his conditioning. If I’m going to attack him in the first two rounds, in the third round I think he’s going to finish. Because he doesn’t have good conditioning.”

____________________

Khabib watches UAE Warriors 12 in Dubai

____________________

Nurmagomedov, who recently turned 32, has been training in Dubai for the past couple of weeks and on Sunday attended UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi – the first of five events on the second Fight Island series.

He was scheduled to face Tony Ferguson in April but the bout fell through because of travel restrictions amid the pandemic.

Gaethje eventually took on Ferguson a month later and capped a dominant display in Florida with a fifth-round TKO. His record stands at 22-2.

Yet, while Nurmagomedov said he was impressed by Gaethje’s performance at UFC 249, he warned that he is a more substantial threat than Ferguson.

“It was a great performance from Justin Gaethje,” Nurmagomedov said. “He beat a very tough opponent. He showed he can fight five rounds. But anyway, he fought only standing up.

"They fought 25 minutes. They don’t wrestle, they don’t attack each other single-leg, double-leg. It was only a striking match, only a kickboxing match.

“But with me it’s going to be completely different. He has to worry about takedown, about boxing, about kicking, about grappling.

"He has to worry about MMA. This is not a striking game. He has to worry about condition, worry about my pressure. I’m going to give him so much and he has to be ready.

“For sure, Justin’s going to try to kill me. He’ll try to give me hard punch, hard kicks. He’s a very tough guy.

"When the cage closes we’re going to see what’s going to happen. He has plan, I have plan. And we will see.”

In July, Nurmagomedov's father and coach, Abdulmanap, died from heart complications having contracted Covid-19, prompting speculation that his son would walk away from fighting.

A rumoured “legacy fight" with former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre has been discussed if Nurmagomedov gets past Gaethje.

"We have a couple options and we’ll think about these after this fight," he said of the retirement talk.

"[UFC president Dana White] told me that after this fight he has something special for me.

"But I told him, ‘Please keep this and after the fight we’re going to talk’.”

Nurmagomedov would not comment on a rematch with Conor McGregor, who he defeated in a hugely lucrative and controversial bout in 2018.

“Right now I’m focused on Justin Gaethje, October 24," he said. "I don’t want to underestimate this guy.

"Justin's a very tough opponent, very tough guy, and he follows his dream. He’s very hungry.

“He just beat a very tough opponent. I don’t underestimate him. I’m focused on October 24.”

Nurmagomedov was asked about the challenges of competing for the first time without Abdulmanap by his side.

“I don’t understand when people ask me, ‘How difficult will it be for you to fight without [your] father?’" he said.

"Of course this is very difficult. What you think? You have your father? If something happens to him what do you think? It’s going to be difficult for you or easy?

"I’m human, too. Of course this is very difficult.”

____________________

Khabib beats Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi