The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Khabib names hardest puncher faced in UFC and it’s not Conor McGregor
The Eagle retired last year with a 29-0 record having cleaned out the lightweight division
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Khabib Nurmagomedov insists Justin Gaethje is the hardest puncher he has ever faced in the UFC.
Having mixed it with Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, The Eagle then called it a day after his next fight, which saw him knock off Gaethje on Fight Island, concluding a glittering career with a 29-0 record.
But the October 2020 meeting was memorable for the Russian, who maintains the American “hit like a truck”.
“This guy [Justin Gaethje] hit like a truck, you know,” Nurmagomedov told Mike Tyson on his Hotboxin’ podcast.
“Nobody hit me harder than Justin Gaethje. His kick, his punch, his left hook, right hook, right uppercut.
“I make him hit me, you know. When I go to the cage and I was sitting like, ‘Okay, I’m going to go, I’m going to bring him into the deep ocean.
”I’m going to make him tired in stand-up and I’m going to bring him on the ground and finish him.”
The praise is bound to provide Gaethje with a boost as he hunts down a shot at the lightweight world championship.
Charles Oliveira won the vacant belt upon Khabib’s retirement by defeating Michael Chandler.
And Gaethje has since knocked off Chandler too, edging a three-round war at UFC 268 and then demanding a shot against the winner of Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier.
“I don’t need to hear anything. I do not. I already know. I’m not going to - those are the things I can’t control, you know? I did what I had to do to control the situation,” Gaethje told MMA Junkie.
“Outside that, I have no more control now. It would be all on the fans, the journalists, the integrity. That has to be questioned.
“People respect us because it’s not boxing because the best fights happen. I have to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier to justify the integrity of this sport, and I’m comfortable with that. I don’t need to do anything else.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments