
Justin Gaethje is hoping to make his next BMF fight memorable not only by winning it for the second time: “The Highlight” is also planning to hand Max Holloway his first KO loss.
Gaethje will face Holloway at UFC 300 on April 13 for a BMF title fight. Given that Gaethje is the current holder of the belt, it is considered a title defense for the No. 2-ranked lightweight fighter. However, it won’t be easy. Although Holloway will be making the adjustment to fight him in the lightweight division, Gaethje knows that the featherweight opponent is a tough fighter.
Despite that, the 35-year-old is determined to continue his record as a well-known KO fighter in his division.
“I have 25 wins and 20 knockouts. I’m pretty proud of that,” Gaethje told ESPN in an interview. “That’s one thing that I tried to sustain throughout my career purposefully. So yeah, that’s something that I’m shooting for. Same thing with Tony Ferguson. Nobody had ever finished him. I didn’t knock him out in a traditional way, but I certainly created enough damage for that fight to be rightfully stopped.
“I would rather not get there here (vs. Holloway), I promise you that. This could be a war, a battle of attrition. If I can’t find him, if I can’t hurt him, then he never stops. He’s constantly creating angles and constantly creating pressure, and it could be a tough fight. If I can’t find his timing early, momentum is everything in there.”