Justin Gaethje (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Justin Gaethje concedes that Khabib Nurmagomedov would be the favorite if the two end up fighting. But, the lightweight contender’s very confident he would damage the champion before the fight was over.

Gaethje faced Donald Cerrone in the headliner of UFC Vancouver, and finished the rugged vet with a series of punches in the first round. After the contest, Gaethje relayed that he wants to fight for the title next. When asked how a fight with Nurmagomedov might unfold, the former WSOF champ said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“No idea,” Gaethje said. “I don’t know. He probably beats me if you put it on paper. But I hit so hard, I kick so hard, and I’m so athletic – the way you stop a takedown in wrestling is to meet force with force. You don’t try to go away.

“I won’t touch the cage. If he’s going to take me down, it’s going to be in the middle, and he’s going to get his leg kicked a few times before he even gets a shot off.”

Nurmagomedov is expected to fight former interim champ Tony Ferguson next.