Justin Gaethje har i sina första 3 UFC-fighter endast mäktat med ett facit på 1-2. WSOF-mästaren gick in i organisationen med ett facit på 17-0 och besegrade i debuten Michael Johnson genom teknisk knockout i 2:a ronden. När han till slut ställdes mot topprankat motstånd i form av Eddie Alvarez och Dustin Poirier höll han dock inte hela vägen.
Det som har frustrerat hans fans är att han i båda dessa matcher var på väg mot seger innan hans motståndare lyckades knocka honom. Gaethje tror sig nu ha identifierat varför han tappat matcherna: dålig fokus och en för avslappnat inställning när han fått medgång i matcherna.
Gaethje hade följande att säga till Flo Combat:
Really, what I’ve been focused on is not becoming too complacent and not having too much fun out there. Right before that knee [against Alvarez], I landed some huge uppercuts and I got too relaxed. In my mind, he was going away and you cannot do that at this level, especially against guys like Eddie Alvarez. Same thing happened with Dustin [Poirier]. I should have learned my lesson, but I get in there and I get too comfortable.
I need to go in there and I need to be scared at all times. I need to understand that it can happen with one shot and that one shot can happen at any time, especially when I’m fighting guys in the top 10 of the UFC. So just staying focused, staying vigilant in my positions has really been my focus in this camp.
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Gaethje hade sedan följande att säga till den kritik han fått motta:
It’s disappointing more than anything. As much as I want to say I do it for the fans, I don’t do it for the fans, I do it for myself. I do it for my family. This is just the person that I am. I couldn’t change the way I fight if I wanted to. I can be more vigilant about staying in better positions at all times. I cannot become comfortable and I can’t have fun.
It needs to be a job to me. It can’t be a complete pleasure for me. I’ve got to go in there and I’ve got to make it a job.
Justin Gaethje ställs mot James Vick natten till söndag denna helg vid UFC Fight Night 135.