Javier Mendez believes UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev’s most harmful opponent is out of the best way.
Justin Gaethje lined himself up for a title shot after knocking out Dustin Poirier to say the BMF title at UFC 291. Nonetheless, he opted to defend his belt towards Max Holloway at UFC 300 and was on the receiving finish of a last-second knockout.
Now Mendez isn’t certain if Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will ever face Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) in a title battle.
“Yeah, to me, the man out of all the blokes that I assumed for us stylistically was very harmful out of all of them, I assumed it was Justin Gaethje,” Mendez stated on his YouTube channel. “Stylistically due to his wrestling pedigree and his placing is admittedly good, sturdy.
“It’s all apples and oranges proper? As a result of everyone brings a special skillset, so I assumed that he was the largest risk for us and now he’s most likely by no means going to be within the image for us going ahead. So, no want to speak about him for us as a risk as a result of he’s by no means going to be there, I feel.”
Mendez already needed to prep for Gaethje earlier than when Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his title towards him. Nurmagomedov submitted him in Spherical 2 at UFC 254 however misplaced Spherical 1 on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
Makhachev will defend his light-weight title towards Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) within the UFC 302 primary occasion June 1 at Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J. Ready within the wings is Arman Tsarukyan, who edged out Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.
For extra on the playing cards, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 302.
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