The former WEC featherweight king and multiple-time UFC bantamweight champion, Urijah Faber, has leaned in favour of Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC 324.
Gaethje takes on Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, which is set to take place on January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It marks the first event of a new era for the UFC as it’s the first event of the (non-PPV) Paramount Plus era. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will be supported by a mega fight in the women’s bantamweight division when Kayla Harrison welcomes Amanda Nunes back with the belt on the line.
Urijah Faber goes with Justin Gaethje
Speaking to Helen Yee, Faber stated:
“I got to go with (Justin) Gaethje. I feel like he’s the one that enjoys a knockdown, drag-out more than the other guy. Not that Paddy Pimblett doesn’t love to fight, it’s just Gaethje loves to actually get down and throw fist for fist, and he’s also got the Division 1 wrestling to kind of negate some of the biggest skillsets of Paddy. Paddy is a very dominant grappler when it comes to submissions and being aggressive with that. I think Gaethje has the tools to keep it where he wants, and I think that’s going to give him an edge”.
This view is one that’s opposed to a former opponent of both Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, Tony Ferguson. El Cucuy fought both men, and as one of only two people to do so, he knows what he’s talking about. Ferguson said in an interview with Ariel Helwani:
“Paddy wins, only because Justin doesn’t want another interim belt. Paddy’s not bad, dude. Paddy’s not bad. He’s very beatable. And Gaethje is very beatable as well. But when it goes into the passion and how upsetting Justin Gaethje has always been about not getting that real title shot, and they just keep dangling it right there again. I mean, Paddy’s in for a new treat, right? Paddy’s the one that’s never fought for a belt”.
Do you agree with Faber or Ferguson? Let us know in the comments!
