When the UFC needed to crown a new lightweight champion following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s surprise retirement, Justin Gaethje knew he should have been involved in the fight for the vacant title.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t in consideration. He had lost to Nurmagomedov this past October, and with such a recent result, the UFC opted instead to book a fight between Charles Oliveira and former Bellator champion Michael Chandler.
As upsetting as it was to lose out on that opportunity, Gaethje knows the promotion can’t possibly pass him over a second time, especially if he tears through Chandler in their fight on Saturday night at UFC 268.
“That’s my belief,” Gaethje said about being next in line for a title shot. “I’m No. 2. Who else? There’s absolutely nobody else. If not, we riot.”
Of course, Gaethje had to contend with questions about potentially losing out on a title fight after Islam Makhachev wrapped up his ninth consecutive victory at UFC 267 this past weekend. Following a first-round submission against Dan Hooker in Abu Dhabi, Makhachev was asked by UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier, who also happens to be his longtime teammate, if he believed that win was convincing enough to jump over Gaethje in order to fight for the lightweight championship next.
That didn’t sit well with Gaethje, who blasted Cormier during the broadcast. At the UFC 268 media day, he explained why he thought that was so unprofessional.
ttt
Yeah. Suck it DC.
His “riot” means he’ll complain more
