‘If he hits Khabib, something can occur’: Khamzat Chimaev warns of Justin Gaethje’s energy forward of UFC 254 (VIDEO)

UFC phenom Khamzat Chimaev says that he’s anticipating Khabib Nurmagomedov to defend his light-weight crown at UFC 254 subsequent week however warns that Justin Gaethje’s energy might show to be essential.

Subsequent weekend’s predominant occasion conflict between the undefeated champion and the person thought-about by most to be his most harmful challenger but falls underneath a well-recognized narrative to most observers: striker vs. grappler.

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Nonetheless, combined martial arts is a much more multi-faceted recreation immediately that it was 20, and even 10, years in the past. For proof of this, see Khabib’s profitable title defence in opposition to Conor McGregor two years in the past wherein he dominated the Irishman on the bottom but in addition dropped him to his knees with a superbly timed overhand proper within the second spherical.

Conversely, Gaethje is taken into account to be among the many strongest pound-for-pound strikers within the UFC. His punches have confirmed to be sufficient to finish a struggle instantly, whereas his scything leg kicks have been identified to rob opponents of their mobility so he can land sq. on their chin. However all of that is predicated on one of many extra completed collegiate grappling resumes within the division. 

So amongst all the intangibles which make up subsequent weekend’s hugely-anticipated struggle, Khamzat Chimaev says that he expects the championship belt to stay round Khabib’s waist – as long as the Russian champion respects the issues posed within the cage by Gaethje.

“I believe Khabib [wins],” Chimaev mentioned to the media, together with RT Sport, in Abu Dhabi.

Nevertheless, this prediction comes with a caveat.

“Justin, he hits exhausting,” Chimaev warned. “If he hits, something can occur within the struggle.”

And that, based on most, is that this struggle in a nutshell. Khabib’s technique in opposition to highly effective strikers has normally been to take the struggle to the bottom as quickly as attainable. He shot at Conor McGregor’s legs within the opening seconds of their struggle and can probably do the identical someplace earlier than the halfway level of the primary spherical in opposition to Gaethje.

The distinction maker, although, may very well be Gaethje’s personal grappling nous. An NCAA Division I All-American, Gaethje was just lately introduced to be becoming a member of the College of Northern Colorado Athletics Corridor of Fame for his achievements in collegiate wrestling.

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Gaethje has mentioned that he was satisfied to enter combined martial arts due to the success he noticed in wrestling classes with the likes of UFC legend Georges St-Pierre, a person thought-about as among the many best MMA wrestlers ever – and if he precipitated GSP, who fought a division above him, some hassle on the bottom, wouldn’t it be shocking if he was capable of do the identical to Khabib?

Nevertheless, Gaethje will probably be extra involved with aiming energy punches at Khabib’s chin which, very like Chimaev surmised, might properly drastically alter the course of the struggle with one swing.