Islam Makhachev’s head honcho, Javier Mendez, dropped a bombshell. He reckoned Justin Gaethje was the top dog threat to Islam. Now? He’s saying, “See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” to that matchup.
“I thought Gaethje was the one to watch out for,” Mendez spilled the beans. “Looks like that ship has sailed for us.”
Oh, and by the by, there’s this ad popping up. Because, of course, there is.
No more Gaethje in the frame, folks. [Check it out](https://t.co/OG3mgE6Mvg). That’s the word from the Championship Rounds crew, April 29, 2024.
Javier Mendez, the guru from American Kickboxing Academy, had it all figured out. Islam Makhachev’s reign seemed untouchable, unless Gaethje stepped in the ring.
Gaethje, with fists that could talk and a wrestling game that screamed NCAA Division I, was “The Highlight” reel Mendez didn’t wanna play. But, here’s the twist.
Makhachev was all set for a showdown, defending his lightweight crown against Gaethje. That was until Ramadan schedules and a knockout win over Dustin Poirier threw a wrench in the works.
Fast forward a bit, and Gaethje’s dancing with Max Holloway at UFC 300. A BMF title clash that ended with Gaethje on the wrong side of a beatdown, courtesy of Holloway. So much for that title shot, huh?
Mendez is now pretty convinced. Makhachev and Gaethje? Not happening. “Out of all the guys, Gaethje was the boogeyman because of his wrestling chops and those heavy hands,” Mendez reflected on his podcast. “But hey, it’s all apples and oranges. Different strokes for different folks, right? Anyway, Gaethje’s out of the picture for us. No point mulling over what-ifs.”