Justin Gaethje likes chances to beat Islam Makhachev better than he did Khabib Nurmagomedov
Justin Gaethje hopes he gets the opportunity to challenge UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will look to re-enter the title picture when he takes on Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) in a five-round lightweight co-main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) March 8 at UFC 313 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, fell short twice in his pursuit for undisputed gold – suffering submission losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 and Charles Oliveira at UFC 274.
Makhachev has defended his lightweight title a division-record four times and already holds wins over top-ranked contenders Arman Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Dustin Poirier. However, he's yet to fight Gaethje.
"I want to fight Makhachev, he is the champ, and I do believe that he is a better matchup for me than Khabib," Gaethje said during a Q&A on his YouTube channel. "But he's good."
Although Gaethje was one of few fighters to ever win a round against Nurmagomedov, he's not confident that he could have beaten that version of "The Eagle."
"I think Khabib was probably the one that I felt even if I performed better, I'm not sure that if I could've beaten him that night specifically," Gaethje said. "That night that I fought Khabib, I would say he is my toughest opponent to date."
Islam Makhachev's coach: 'Biggest threat' Justin Gaethje no longer in UFC title picture
Justin Gaethje: UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev is not Khabib, and I want to prove it
Daniel Cormier reveals the incredible way that Khabib showed mercy on Justin Gaethje
Twitter reacts to Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, finish of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 313.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje likes chances to beat Islam Makhachev better than he did Khabib Nurmagomedov
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
Winners and losers of Aaron Rodgers' deal with Steelers? So many questions
Winners and losers of Aaron Rodgers' deal with Steelers? So many questions Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Greenberg says Aaron Rodgers still has ability to succeed in the NFL ESPN commentator Mike Greenberg chats with Mackenzie Salmon about what's left in the tank for Aaron Rodgers as he searches for a new team. Sports Seriously After what will be 86 days – though it felt much longer – Aaron Rodgers' first experience as an NFL free agent will apparently end, black and gold smoke finally emanating from Pittsburgh as reports surfaced Thursday that he will sign with the Steelers Friday and become their quarterback of the (very immediate) future. Even at 41, Rodgers could bring a level of stability behind center the Steelers haven't enjoyed since well before Ben Roethlisberger's retirement in 2022 – which occurred five years after Pittsburgh's most recent postseason victory. Yet, depending on the circumstances unfold, Rodgers might be anything but a calming presence. Either way, the 2025 season should be a compelling one in the Steel City, which could experience a whole host of winners and losers – we think, hence the question marks? – with its latest quarterback coming to town: WINNERS Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin? They'd had something of a long-distance bro-mance years before they officially team up … and before Tomlin, always one to turn a phrase, exclaimed 'there's no substitute for intimacy' following Rodgers' visit to the Steelers' facility in March. It remains to be seen how their transition from mutual admirers to direct collaborators goes, but what has either got to lose? Neither has appeared in a Super Bowl since the 2010 season, when Rodgers' Green Bay Packers barely got the better of Tomlin's Steelers – and they could certainly be mutually supporting the other's protracted quest to secure a second ring (if we don't count the one Tomlin won as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002). But Rodgers was about as good a veteran option as Tomlin could have hoped for following the Russell Wilson Experience in 2024, while the Steelers were probably Rodgers' best hope all along – given the Vikings never swiped right – to allow him to conclude his career in a manner he deems fitting after getting unceremoniously dumped by the New York Jets. Minnesota Vikings? It had to be tempting. Right? Minnesota's brass continues to – understandably – say glowing things about 2024 first-round QB J.J. McCarthy, whose rookie season ended before it began due to a preseason meniscus injury. But there's no denying that McCarthy is an unknown professional commodity, and that a team coming off a 14-3 season – thanks in large part to departed Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold – and with a loaded roster at just about every other position is taking a risk. But rather than replicating Brett Favre's Packers-Jets-Vikings career-ending path – and how amped up would the already spicy Green Bay rivalry have been by injecting Rodgers back into it? – HC Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are doing right by McCarthy, putting him on the field with the loaded supporting cast any young passer should have before being asked to shoulder too heavy a burden. Right? Because McCarthy couldn't possibly be the second coming of Christian Ponder. Right? Will Howard? After mismanaging the quarterback position for at least a half-dozen years – including the spiraling portion of Big Ben's career – Pittsburgh at least had one (side?) eye on the future in April, drafting the Ohio State quarterback in the sixth round. And given Howard is likely shooting for the QB3 job here behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, he could soak up some wisdom given Rodgers' willingness to mentor Jordan Love in Green Bay and Zach Wilson with the Jets. Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth? Could the Steelers' slot receiver and tight end, respectively, wind up getting the predominant target share from Rodgers, who tended to thrower shorter passes and typically between the hashes last season – often getting rid of the ball in a hurry rather than inviting more abuse onto his aging frame? Don't be surprised if it's the case – and it might be a coup for Austin as he enters a contract year. LOSERS DK Metcalf? Will a wideout who typically does most of his damage as an outside deep threat defeating man-to-man coverage grow frustrated playing with Rodgers, especially given their combustible on-field personas and his growing propensity to stay inside the numbers? (And especially given Rodgers' own combustible on-field persona and propensity to telegraph shade at teammates who don't run routes to his specifications?) Don't be surprised, despite Rodgers' private workouts with Metcalf. Arthur Smith The playbook of Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator has generally worked best when he has an athletic quarterback who operates a run-heavy attack that's also reliant on play action and a healthy mix of deep shots to physical receivers. But instead of re-signing Justin Fields, the Steelers wound up with Rodgers, who tends to have his own way of doing things, so ... RFK Jr. After considering Rodgers as a running mate for his failed 2024 presidential bid, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services – will have to continue waiting to sign the quarterback who was infamously "immunized" against COVID-19 but wasn't vaccinated. Yeah, they seem like a good fit as Kennedy amplifies his anti-vax agenda. But Rodgers will have to wait to become the food dye czar. Mason Rudolph After returning from his one-year exile in Nashville, he was getting so close to QB1 with the Steelers, for whom he's 8-4-1 as a spot starter over the course of his six seasons with the franchise. Heck, RFK Jr.'s boss, Donald Trump, recently opined at a Western Pennsylvania rally that Rudolph, who attended the festivities, would be the guy for the Steelers. And who knows as he's still just one torn Achilles away. Pittsburgh fans They've long been told by Tomlin that "The standard is the standard" – but have known for five decades that that means Lombardi Trophies. Yet the organization's Stairway to Seven has now been under construction for 16 years – since Tomlin, Roethlisberger and Co. prevailed over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43. But can Rodgers really add any meaningful steps at this stage? The last time Steelers fans saw him in person – this past October in Acrisure Stadium – he was picked off twice in a 37-15 loss, which almost certainly won't make him an easy sell as a savior. Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin? Can you imagine their press conferences if this thing goes sideways? Tomlin has famously never had a losing season in his 18 years at the helm in Western Pennsylvania, yet he has a six-game losing streak in the playoffs going back to the 2016 campaign. As for Rodgers? He's lost 22 of his past 36 regular-season starts, which doesn't include three defeats in his past four postseason appearances. Given how much will be expected of this shotgun marriage, there's certainly quite a risk that this duo's codependency devolves into an unfortunate union that might even send both up the Three Rivers. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
USC not ranked in top 20 of ESPN's preseason FPI
USC not ranked in top 20 of ESPN's preseason FPI The start of the 2025 college football season continues to draw closer. This week, we got another sign that kickoff is just around the corner with the release of ESPN's annual preseason Football Power Index (FPI) rankings. Coming off of a 7-6 season last year, USC did not make the top 20 of the rankings. Perhaps more interesting, however, was the conference makeup of the list. Of ESPN's top 20 teams, 11 are from the SEC, compared to just four from the Big Ten. Given ESPN's well-established relationship with the SEC, many fan bases may very well accuse the FPI rankings of being biased towards the conference. This group includes USC fans, who certainly feel as though there are not 11 SEC teams better than the Trojans. ESPN's FPI did have USC as a top-20 team on offense, with the Trojans tied with Tennessee at No. 12. It seems as though the computers have more faith in Lincoln Riley's offense than they do in D'Anton Lynn's defense. Regardless, it is clear that ESPN's FPI is not particularly high on USC heading into this fall. It will be up to the Trojans to try and use this as motivation and prove their doubters wrong on the field.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
19th Birmingham Bowl scheduled for December 29
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The 19th Birmingham Bowl is set for Monday, Dec. 29 at Protective Stadium. The game will feature teams from the SEC, AAC, or ACC. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN. Participating teams will be announced on Dec. 7. Tickets will go one sale to the public on Dec. 7 as well. For more information, click here. Mark Ingram on College Football Hall of Fame ballot 'As we prepare for the 19th Birmingham Bowl, and our 5th game at Protective Stadium, we look forward to hosting the participating teams, marching bands and fans to experience the unique southern hospitality that only Birmingham can offer,' said Mark Meadows, Birmingham Bowl Executive Director. 'I am also excited about showcasing our community to a national television audience on ESPN.' The 2024 Birmingham Bowl featured Vanderbilt defeating Georgia Tech, 35-27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
