{"id":908527,"date":"2026-09-28T12:02:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/908527\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T12:02:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:02:11","slug":"justin-gaethje-predicts-how-failed-khabib-nurmagomedov-ufc-rematch-wouldve-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/908527\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Gaethje Predicts How Failed Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC Rematch Would’ve Gone"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje has been making the rounds on various podcasts following his White House victory over Ilia Topuria<\/a> earlier this summer to address his immediate UFC and MMA future.<\/a><\/p>\n

Gaethje has been clear about where he stands on what’s next if he defends the lightweight strap. <\/a>However, given time to reflect, Gaethje took a moment to address his previous attempts at winning a world title, which included losses to former champions in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.<\/p>\n

Gaethje’s UFC 254 loss to Nurmagomedov was emotional for both men, but more specifically for Nurmagomedov, who retired and vacated his then-lightweight title following a second-round triangle choke in the night’s main event.<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje Recalls Turning Point in Khabib Fight\"Justin<\/p>\n

Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) celebrates with his team after winning the UFC Freedom 250 fight against Ilia Topuria (not pictured) at the White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Gaethje quietly found a comfortable pace in the opening round and was getting inside on Nurmagomedov while both men stayed standing. Gaethje recalled feeling physically and mentally drained after the opening round, which he admitted changed the fight’s eventual outcome.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude32\u201cI wasn\u2019t gonna win that fight after the first round\u201d:<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje still doesn\u2019t know if he\u2019d win a Khabib rematch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI beat Khabib in the first round on two of the three scorecards, and it took everything in my body to win that first round. I wasn\u2019t going to win after\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/NJqYL6RPjw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI beat Khabib in the first round on two of the three scorecards, and it took everything in my body to win that first round,” Gaethje said on the One Night Steiny podcast.<\/a> “I wasn\u2019t going to win after that. I think it could have been just his pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaethje shut down the notion that a rematch with Nurmagomedov would have made a difference, acknowledging how great he truly was. Overall, Gaethje’s bottom line was simply put.<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje Brutally Blunt During Khabib Fight Recall\"Justin<\/p>\n

Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) fights Ilia Topuria (red gloves) during the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

“I wasn\u2019t gonna win that fight after the first round,” Gaethje said.<\/p>\n

A solid argument could be made that the loss to Nurmagomedov may have truly been the beginning of one of MMA’s greatest comeback stories. Six years later, even after losing in the closing seconds in April 2024 against Max Holloway at UFC 300 in their “BMF” title fight, Gaethje found himself on the right end of an interim title decision win against Paddy Pimblett in January to clinch a Topuria undisputed title fight.<\/p>\n

Had Gaethje lost to Pimblett, Gaethje was direct that he would consider retirement given the continuous opportunities that kept popping up, yet falling short.<\/p>\n

With the weight of consolation prizes off his back, Gaethje can now reset to figure out if one title defense is enough juice to be worth the squeeze.<\/p>\n

The UFC appears to be open to either possibility, fully accepting Gaethje’s time off as 2027 is nearly four months away.<\/p>\n

Either way, lightweight clarity is forthcoming, whether Gaethje is involved or not. Nonetheless, Gaethje’s upset of Topuria is another chaotic chapter in an unpredictable year for the UFC.<\/p>\n

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