Justin Gaethje is hopeful that he has done enough after his victory over UFC 313 to earn the next lightweight title shot.
After being eliminated by Max Holloway on UFC 300 last April, it was unclear what Justin Gaethje had left to give the MMA sport.
'The highlight' answered those questions and doubted the bed last Saturday at UFC 313, when he again waged war with Rafael Fiziev, where Gaethje took the decision victory.
After his fight, Gaethje got a huge boost from UFC boss, Dana White, who claimed that the 36-year-old is in a 'pretty good' position to get the next lightweight title shot.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Jon Anik believes that Justin Gaethje has done enough to combat Islam Makhachev
Current champion, Islam Makhachev has previously admitted that he wants to fight against Gaethje, because he believes that there is no one else in the lightweight division that is useful.
That is despite the fact that featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has left its title to permanently move up to 155 pounds to strive for a fight against the Russian.
There is no clear number one competition in the division and although many think that Arman Tsarukyan is the actual number one competition, he will not fight for the title.
And with that the man who is extremely close to the campaign on Saturday evening, Jon Anik, believes that Gaethje has done enough to fight for the next title.
“He would definitely have to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title,” the UFC commentator told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive interview.
“I don't know that he could have done more with this showcase and sometimes his decision wins better than finishes … I actually think this is more useful.
“It seems to me in a speculative way that Ilia Topuria has the inside. I don't know if it is a case of you while the iron is hot or whether there is no obvious number one contender … I wonder if Islam Makhachev will have a say in this.
'Don't you believe, anyway, that if Islam Makhachev is investigated for this, he wants to fight Justin Gaethje? I don't know what the pay-per-view window says about Gaethje vs Topuria … the nature of this victory for Gaethje and the fact that we had not seen that fight promotionally, I would go in that direction, “he continued.
Islam Makhakev's coach calls Justin Gaethje as 'ideal' next opponent
The head coach of the Russian champion, Javier Mendez, may have given the fans a hint about whom the champion may defend his title against the following.
Makhacheve has not only stated that he does not like to have a fight against Topuria, but his coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, also believes that Topuria needs at least one victory on lightweight before he can fight for the title.
After Gaethje's victory on Saturday, Mendez named the 36-year-old as the 'ideal' next opponent for Makhachev, since it is a new matchup for the Russian and that it is a good stylistic matchup.
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