”I’m planning on fighting perfect and when I fight perfect, I think you have to get lucky to beat me,” Gaethje said on YouTube. “But the challenge is still ahead. I have to be perfect that night to knock Paddy out and earn my title shot on the White House card. That’s the plan. I think if I can do that, that’s the best way that I can ever imagine finishing off my career.”
“This is my last chance,“ Gaethje (26-5) added. ”This opportunity to finish my career off the way that I want to is everything that I could ask for. I’ll fight Paddy for the interim championship. If I win that, I’ll get to fight Ilia (Topuria). Ilia right now is the baddest man in my division, and some consider, across the board. What an opportunity to finish this career off exactly how I’ve fought the whole time.”