J. Gaethje will be C. do Bronx's next challenger (Photo: Montage/SUPER FIGHTS)
First in line to challenge Charles of the Bronx for the UFC lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg), Justin gaethje appears to be aware of the risks presented by the current champion and has already started to draw up a strategy for the likely meeting before it has even been confirmed.
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In an interview with North American ESPN, the former interim lightweight champion stated that he needs to be superior to the Brazilian in stand-up fighting, his specialty.
“At the end of the day, if my striking isn’t much better than his, I’m f***ed. That's what I'm great at. I'm great at creating pressure, generating damage and avoiding takedowns. So he will definitely need to take it to the ground, because I will have a lot of success in the striking department”, guaranteed Gaethje.
Despite guaranteeing himself in the stand-up fight, Justin gaethje also drew attention to the evolution of Charles of the Bronx in striking, but reaffirmed that he needed to be superior in this department if he wanted to become the new UFC lightweight champion.
“He is incredibly dangerous in his striking. His knees, his elbows, his ability to create pressure, control distance. But I better be superior, or else I'm in a f***ing world of trouble,” admitted Gaethje.
Finally, Gaethje spoke about the constant criticism he made of Charles of the Bronx in the past, even calling the Brazilian a “quitter”. According to the American, the champion has been proving him wrong, but it's up to him to prove he was right when they meet in the octagon.
“I never said that Charles Oliveira gives up in the first or second round. I was talking about depth. When the fight arrives at critical and complicated moments. But, anyway, I was talking about the boy Oliveira. He proved me wrong, but my job will be to prove him right when I step into the octagon with him. Make him give up”, concluded Gaethje.
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