Justin Gaethje has his sights set on a dream scenario. He’s looking to echo his triumph over Tony Ferguson, but this time, against Max Holloway. And yeah, he’d prefer it without the brutal beatdown part.
So, Gaethje’s gearing up to defend his BMF title against Holloway. This showdown’s happening at UFC 300, hosted in the vibrant T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, come Saturday. This time, Gaethje’s playing it smart, aiming for technique over raw emotion. He’s taken his lessons from a tough loss to Charles Oliveira back in 2022. The plan? Dominate like he did with Ferguson, but fingers crossed, Holloway taps out sooner.
Gaethje spilled the beans in an ESPN chat. “Getting emotional? That’s when the fight gets messy. Oliveira was a wake-up call. Learned my lesson; not going down that road again. I’m dreaming of a Ferguson-like win, but, let’s be real, I’d rather not hit Max as much. Hopefully, he’ll catch some Z’s earlier.”
But if things get as intense as they did with Ferguson, Gaethje knows Holloway’s got the grit to hang in there. End of the day, Gaethje’s all about laying on the punishment if it means securing the win. “Tony just wouldn’t go down, and I reckon Max is cut from the same cloth. So, it’s gonna be about dishing out damage, which, let’s face it, is what I love doing. It’s a sport, a competition, and I’m there to win.”
Gaethje’s takedown of Ferguson at UFC 249 was nothing short of epic, leading to a technical knockout in the fifth round. This win snagged him the interim lightweight title. Khabib Nurmagomedov had predicted it—Ferguson hasn’t been the same since, with six consecutive losses. Gaethje, though, harbors no guilt. “Remorse? Nah. It’s the game. It’s what we do. That night, I was just doing my job. And it’s not like I stole his skills; it was his confidence that took the hit. Confidence is key in the ring. Just look at Sean O’Malley; his confidence is through the roof, and it shows.”
In essence, Gaethje’s ready for the Holloway fight, aiming to replicate his past success but hoping for an even quicker victory. He’s learned from his past, focusing on technique over emotion, and is ready to do whatever it takes to win, all while acknowledging the brutal nature of the sport they’re in.