Gaethje: Usman is ‘the best in the world’ but ‘we’re on the downhill of our careers’
Former welterweight champion and pinnacle pound-for-pound fighter Kamaru Usman captured UFC gold at 32 years of age. It is the most sensible for lots athletes, then again for a longtime competitor like “The Nigerian Nightmare” who`s been at it because of the reality his over the top wrestling college days, it’s possible you’ll say he is older in fighting years.
The 35-year-vintage Usman out of place the title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, which moreover marked his first defeat in 9 years. And at the similar time as he however has a threat to reclaim the belt, his close to teammate Justin Gaethje doesn`t see him in opposition for too lengthy.
“He`s the first-class withinside the international and again, we each recognize it`s now no longer the beginning,” Gaethje recommended Drake Riggs for MMA Mania. “It`s now now not even the middle anymore. It`s now now not the finish, then again we`re at the downhill of our careers, there`s no doubt roughly that.
“I don`t wish to fight until I`m 40, he doesn`t wish to fight until he`s 40, and I don`t want him to fight `til he`s 40.
Usman will in all probability face Edwards in a trilogy sooner or later in 2023. And Gaethje already expects a victory.
“He`s in a high quality spot. He`s gonna come again, most likely fight this guy in London, he`s upper than him and he wish to win. The objective why we`re all such fans of this recreation is because of the unpredictability at any given second.
“And whilst you`re on the alternative facet of what he simply experienced, first-class feeling withinside the international. That`s what we`re all there for. He has the danger to exit there and get that feeling back.”
As for Gaethje, he recommended Riggs withinside the an identical interview that he has “ or 3 difficult fights left.” And he expects without a doubt regarded as one in every of them to be a “Fight of the Decade” rematch with Dustin Poirier, wish to the latter defeat Michael Chandler at UFC 281.
