Although Justin Gaethje versus Michael Chandler at UFC 268 will be remembered by many as one of the greatest fights in UFC lightweight history, Gaethje thinks that scrap was “boring.”
There is no doubt that one-time UFC interim lightweight champion Gaethje (23-3) is a unique cat. How he views the sport of MMA and the fighting is a little different than most. “The Highlight” embraces the violence of combat sports and has a borderline lust for blood and pain. While it may seem a bit crazy, it is what has helped to make him one of the best fighters in a talent-rich division.
Because of this, he also views his fights in ways that MMA fans and media would not. For example, his November bout with Chandler (22-7) at UFC 268 was almost universally chosen as the best fight in 2021 — including on MixedMartialArts.com. It was a three-round war that sent both men to the hospital and was the fight of the night on a star-studded card.
Justin Gaethje thought his UFC 268 win over Michael Chandler was ‘boring’
Yet Gaethje looks back on that fight with disappointment. In his mind, he fought just to win, and earn a sought-after second chance at the UFC lightweight title. Which is a departure from his norm of entering the Octagon looking to put men to sleep. And that change in mindset doesn’t sit well with him two months removed from that memorable fight.
To be completely honest with you, I feel like that was kind of a boring fight when I was in there, Gaethje told “>BT Sport[h /t MMAFighting]. Yeah, it just makes no sense. It’s the first time I’ve ever wanted to win more than to knock somebody out. So yeah, it was not good. I didn’t like it. I want to go back to just wanting to hurt somebody and finish them. But now that I have won, I got my title shot, I can go back to how it should be.
The 33-year-old is next expected to face 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira at some point in the second quarter of this year. It will be his second opportunity at the division title after falling short in his October 2020 bid to dethrone unbeaten and now-retired lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
What are your thoughts on Gaethje’s opinion of his FOTY win?
