Justin Gaethje hopes to be the undeniable No. 1 contender after UFC 313.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) runs things back with Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the March 8 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) looking for fresh blood, Gaethje thinks he can jump into the title opportunity with an impressive showing against Fiziev. Gaethje edged out Fiziev by majority decision at UFC 286.
Gaethje will look to rebound from his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300. But just like Dustin Poirier was able to rebound from his knockout loss to Gaethje with a finish of Benoit Saint Denis to jump into a title opportunity, “The Highlight” aims to do the same.
“I mean, I’m always shooting for Makhachev. Right now, he’s the champion,” Gaethje said on “The Jim Rome Show.” “And we saw with Poirier, I beat him and then he fought for the belt. I think timing is such a huge factor in this sport.
“With Charles (Oliveira) already losing to him twice, him being ahead of me; (Arman) Tsarukyan having his chance and pulling out the day of the fight or the night before, is definitely detrimental to his chances; (Ilia) Topuria coming up (to lightweight) and Makhachev saying he needs to fight somebody else first; there’s really not a lot of guys. And so with the huge win here and certainly a finish, I think they’re going to have to consider me. I’ve never fought him, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Makhachev was scheduled to defend his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, but wound up facing Renato Moicano instead when Tsarukyan withdrew a day before due to a back injury. Makhachev quickly submitted Moicano, but UFC CEO Dana White said after that Tsarukyan won’t immediately get his title fight rebooked.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.
