UFC Lightweight fighter Justin Gaethje was originally expected to face Michael Chandler in his next fight. The former Interim Lightweight Champion lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov last year and has not been back in the octagon since.
Reports indicated that Gaethje was in fact going to be the 1-0 (in the UFC) Chandler’s next bout. These plans appear to have changed as Michael Chandler will now be challenging for the vacant Lightweight Championship at UFC 262 against Charles Oliveira.
Ali Abdelaziz, Justin Gaethje’s manager, has now given an update on the 155lb fighter, saying that he is waiting for the ‘right fight’ to make his return to the octagon.
Ali Abdelaziz on Justin Gaethje
‘I don’t think it’s business (issues) right now, I think I just have to get the right fight” Abdelaziz said to MMAJunkie. “I see a lot of people calling him out. You can’t just be away from the lightweight division for six years and come back and try to fight the No. 2 guy. You have to earn it.”
‘Listen, Justin was supposed to fight Michael Chandler,’ Abdelaziz added. ‘That was the talk. We found out Chandler (was) fighting Oliveira, and I get it. The UFC wants a champion who never lost to Khabib (Nurmagomedov).”
“If a guy who lost to Khabib becomes the champion ’¦ you need more time to make people forget about Khabib, right?” Abdelaziz concluded. “They made the move, and I get it.’
We will update once we have a clearer view on Gaethje’s return to the octagon.
Also Check Out:
