Does anyone think really think Gaethje can beat Khabib?

[carcano69]

People can argue Gaethje is the best striker in the division right now (but even Khabib said conor is better than gaethje), but we saw how his last 5 fights with strikers turned out. I just don't see him beating khabib.

Might bet the house on habibi

[DubSilky]

I think he has a better shot than most. He was a decorated wrestler before he was a striker.

[burkapyasa]

Nah as much as i would like to see khabib lose gaethje will not be able to stop the wrestling for more than one round.

I can see justin defending some takedowns in the beginning but as the fight goes on khabib will eventually get him down and submit him.

Khabib by R3 Sub

[akmerle]

Will be a good fight, but I see khabib submitting a gassed Justin in R4.

Justin is a good wrestler, but that doesn’t always translate to being a good mma grappler. Justin also hasn’t used his wrestling in any of his fights.

Khabib uses his striking well to get inside / put guys against the fence / pressure / set up his take downs and ground game. Very GSP in that regard with less effective striking, but better grappling.

[Reliance012]

I think he has a better shot than most. He was a decorated wrestler before he was a striker.

Not really. He was like a 1-time AA. Really don’t think I’d consider that decorated.

[Rattelsnake]

Probably not, odds favor Khabib.

[MuslimBrahSwag]

Slim chance IMO. Unless he comes in joocy and Khabib comes in very injured. I give the edge to Khabib

[kusok]

The way sports work is anyone can beat anyone.


I am old enough to remember how about 100% of MMA fans knew 100% that Big Nog would never lose. It was impossible to imagine. He had an iron chin, better chin than anyone in history of Martial Arts, better than Mark Hunt, he had world class submissions, insane grip strength, he strangled people in horrific ways, and was #1 in the world, even in PFP in most people’s minds.

But then a chubby Russian dominated him in brutal fashion. Twice. So naturally people assumed that nobody can beat that chubby Russian etc. People would make threads: you guys really think so and so can beat Fedor? HAHAHAHA!!!! Then Fedor gets beat, and so on. It’s the nature of the game.

Cliffs:
Yes, Khabib can lose, his main weakness is boxing. One punch is all it takes. A millimeter here a millimeter there, you get hit on a temple, you go to sleep. Doesn’t matter who you are.

[DubSilky]

Not really. He was like a 1-time AA. Really don’t think I’d consider that decorated.

Lmao...just an All American bro

[sooby]

I think Gaethje has the best shot over anybody. I don't think Khabib is absolutely unbeatable and I don't think Khabib has fought anybody like Gaethje.


Apparently Gaethje is a good wrestler but I've never seen him use it once in the UFC so that is the biggest unknown for me. How will he deal with Khabib's grappling. Gaethje's best weapons in his leg kicks, chopping and effective, but knowing Khabib wants to take it to the ground will Gaethje risk throwing these, or will he just not give af? And can he defend these takedowns when attempted? And how will he deal with the Khabib's relentlessness when he does get taken down? All unknowns.

However Gaethje's striking has improved since his debut in the UFC. It got better, no longer seems like he's taking 5 hits to land 1, etc. In the Ferguson fight he showed a great adjustment by throwing multiple punches at 60-70% rather than try to go headhunting for a one punch KO. I think Khabib can get stunned and clocked by Gaethje's striking, but who knows. Khabib has not really fought any wrestlers. Another thing that Gaethje has going for him is his relentlessness and toughness as well his mental game. This is also huge if he is to have any chance of beating Khabib.

If he can somehow attack the legs or hurt him, it could limit the effect of his wrestling. but khabib's wrestling and grappling is unique so who knows.

[Gainzzz]

The closer the fight gets, the more I think Khabib will win. I don't even know why, just a feeling.

Gaethje has talked up his defensive wrestling a lot. I also can't recall him wrestling much. I think Alvarez attempted a few takedowns maybe, but that's about it. Imagine how crazy it will be if he can avoid Khabib's takedowns.

Khabib needs names like this on his record. Before his last 2 wins, his record was not very impressive. If he mauls Gaethje, it puts him as the undisputed LW GOAT imo, and he starts entering ATG discussions.

I can't wait for it.

[ndiguy]

Imagine how crazy it will be if he can avoid Khabib's takedowns.

This is what I'm most excited to see.

I will lose my mind if Justin can successfully defend the take down... or at least get the fight back on the feet if/when he gets taken down.

[skinnyfat88]

Gaethje has talked up his defensive wrestling a lot. I also can't recall him wrestling much. I think Alvarez attempted a few takedowns maybe, but that's about it. Imagine how crazy it will be if he can avoid Khabib's takedowns.

.

IMO nobody at 155 or below can handle Khabib's grappling once he gets a hold of them.

I think someone with elite footwork/distance control and striking from the outside + maybe scrambling ability has the best shot vs Khabib. Maybe even someone who could catch Khabib off balance and put him on his back.

So basically a carbon copy of GSP in his prime slimmed down to 155.

[ndiguy]

A couple of my favorite Gaethje quotes, in regards to the Khabib match up...

"There's gonna be a zone in front of me, it's not very big. It's gonna be a zone of death and I have to represent death every time he enters the zone. That's what I'm best at; creating carnage... creating car crashes"

"My only goal when I step in there is to create as many car crashes as possible. Whether it be our bodies hitting, our heads hitting, our f**king shoulders hitting, my fist hitting his head, his fist hitting my head... it doesn't matter"

I really don't know how Justin will handle the pressure of Khabib (since we never get to see the guy wrestle), but if he can manage to defend the TD, it's going to be a wild fight.

[Gainzzz]

IMO nobody at 155 or below can handle Khabib's grappling once he gets a hold of them.

I think someone with elite footwork/distance control and striking from the outside + maybe scrambling ability has the best shot vs Khabib. Maybe even someone who could catch Khabib off balance and put him on his back.

So basically a carbon copy of GSP in his prime slimmed down to 155.

I think this is probably right. It's not just Khabib's "wrestling", it's his MMA grappling. It's like nothing we have ever seen. It's so ridiculously effective. Basically impossible to train for which is the problem his opponents have.

Gaethje has to survive (with some cardio left) until the later rounds to have a chance, imo. Khabib does slow down.

[KingSWRV]

Gotta agree with Gainzzz here this time

[MuslimBrahSwag]

Nobody here mentioned the real fact that Justin can be knocked out cold by Khabib.

Look at his last fight with Tony.

Khabib has said himself Tony is a weak guy ala his bone structure, and Khabib has been working on his boxing. It's not a stretch to see that a feint to overhand could KO Justin.

[Edged123]

Lmao...just an All American bro

He was an All-American 10 years ago... even in his prime Khabib would out wrestle him
Khabib dismantled Chase Saldate who was the #1 ranked kid in High School at the time. Those are the type of kids who go on to All-American and win National Titles and Khabib bullied him in practice

[Gainzzz]

Gotta agree with Gainzzz here this time

It's cos we're so high IQ

[BobLoblawBrah]

I think Gaethje's best asset is his low IQ and disregard for his body. He's not going to go in and kiss the ring like poirier. He really needs to start violent though and not let Khabib settle in. He's going to need a knee or a mistake from khabib.

More likely I see Khabib pinning him to the cage when he's tired like Conor, TKO from this position and ref stopping it with Gaethje unable to defend.

[SmillironS]

I think gaethje has the best chance of beating khabib as anybody outside of a prime Ferguson. I will absolutely hit the ceiling if khabib gets starched.

[MilkforBrains]

No. There is gulf oil money backing all Muslim fighters. Guys like Khadis Ibragimov and Antigulov have been given so many chances that some White or Black guy from the rust belt would NEVER get. Tukgagov has been gifted draws. Draws are like hen's teeth in MMA and I think he's had 2 in 6 fights. Funny that.

[kenjoshx]

I've only watched 2 of Gathje's fights (however you spell that) and a sh!t-ton of Khabib's. Pretty sure Khabib's game plan will be similar to the one against Connor:

- Very cautious on the feet and rush him to the ground early
- Gas him out through 2nd-4th round, with sambo and ground and pound (you know the drill, knot up his feet and advance position and pound/attempt submission)
- In the last 2 rounds, walk through Justin's weakened punches and take him on the feet or on the ground


It's an odds game and Justin can always catch him and put him to sleep, but I feel that he's only got a striker's chance; whereas Khabib has more tools and control over where the fight takes place to be able bring this one home.

[kingHanley]

I saw Justin wrestle in kingman srs

Beast defensively

[FHSwarrior17]

Nobody here mentioned the real fact that Justin can be knocked out cold by Khabib.

Look at his last fight with Tony.

Khabib has said himself Tony is a weak guy ala his bone structure, and Khabib has been working on his boxing. It's not a stretch to see that a feint to overhand could KO Justin.

This. I have the feeling Khabib will hit Justin with a good shot that will either wobble him or drop him then Khabib wins via GnP

[Schnitzl]

I don't see anyone beating Khabib in the near future. His mindset is the strongest I've seen amongst all fighters. The only 2 ways I see Gaethje winning is either a lucky punch or Khabib not being the same since his dad passed. I wouldn't even know how to bet Sub/points for Khabib as he can also land a lucky punch or GNP Gaethje to smithereens.

This would be one of the biggest upsets of MMA history if Khabib lost.

[MilkforBrains]

This. I have the feeling Khabib will hit Justin with a good shot that will either wobble him or drop him then Khabib wins via GnP

Khabib has never ko'd anyone standing. He dropped McGregor on his arse but McG's jaw is granite and wasn't expecting the punch. Khabib is just enormous for 55; he's bigger than Covington (who'd drown him) but he isn't smooth or athletic. His striking is jerky and spastic an he looks like he's scared of getting hit. Make him fight McGregor in K1 rules and he wouldn't make it past the 2nd.

[LeakyQuesadilla]

He's got the skill set and the mastermind Trevor Wittman behind him. I think he can make it competitive.

[DubSilky]

He was an All-American 10 years ago... even in his prime Khabib would out wrestle him
Khabib dismantled Chase Saldate who was the #1 ranked kid in High School at the time. Those are the type of kids who go on to All-American and win National Titles and Khabib bullied him in practice

Can you point out where I said he was going to beat khabib? I was responding to someone downplaying being an all American. But again lmao at your high school example. Beating up on a 150lb child is not really something to brag about

[Edged123]

Can you point out where I said he was going to beat khabib? I was responding to someone downplaying being an all American. But again lmao at your high school example. Beating up on a 150lb child is not really something to brag about

That 150lb child would beat Justin in a pure wrestling match rn. Possibly even at Justins prime lol