Justin Gaethje is no stranger to taking and dishing out damage. After all, fighters live in a world where pain is a part of everyday life. But sometimes, even the closest training partners push the limits of friendly fire.
Both Kamaru Usman and Gaethje have spent countless hours sharpening their weapons under the watchful eye of Trevor Wittman. However, when two warriors start swinging, things are bound to get messy. Now, ahead of UFC 313, where Gaethje is set to return against Rafael Fiziev, a behind-the-scenes war story has emerged. One that left ‘The Highlight’ with a trip to the doctor and a permanent reminder of the dangers of sparring with ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’!
Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman pull back the curtain on what happens during their training sessions
During an episode of the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast, Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman sat down and shared war stories from their time training together. And it didn’t take long for Usman to remind Gaethje of their not-so-gentle sparring history!
The former welterweight champion revealed, “You have hit me. You have tried to hurt me a few times”, as his co-host, Henry Cejudo asked whether Gaethje unleashed some of his renowned calf-kicks on Usman.
With a cheeky smirk, Usman shared, “He’s kicked me a few times”, but Gaethje was quick to clarify that, “Only with shin guards!”
But shin guards don’t make a Gaethje strike any less painful, as Usman further confessed, “He’s the type that will hit me very, very hard but then say oh no you tried to smoke me man you tried to hit me. I’m like bro no what are you talking about?”
That’s when Gaethje casually dropped a bombshell, “He gave me six stitches on my chin. I still got a scar.”
The former champion wasn’t about to let that claim slide as he fired back by revealing, “Bro, you tried to knock me out. What are you talking about? We have video footage of these interactions.”
The conversation perfectly captured the controlled chaos of their training sessions. Gaethje, known for his relentless pressure and absurd durability, has a reputation for making even sparring sessions feel like pay-per-view brawls.
In the end, the six stitches, a scar, and an unbreakable friendship, maybe that’s what it means to train with the best. The timing of this story couldn’t be more fitting. Justin Gaethje is gearing up for a high-stakes return at UFC 313 after nearly a year away from the Octagon. But is a title shot on the horizon for the former BMF champion?
Gaethje has Islam Makhachev in his crosshairs after UFC 313
Justin Gaethje faces Rafael Fiziev in a high-octane rematch at UFC 313. Originally set to face Dan Hooker, an injury forced the Kiwi out, leaving Fiziev to step in on short notice. Their last battle at UFC 286 was a razor-thin decision, with Gaethje walking away the victor. Now, he wants more than just another win.
During a recent conversation on ‘The Jim Rome Show’, Gaethje confessed, “I mean, I’m always shooting for Makhachev. Right now, he’s the champion. And we saw with Poirier, I beat him and then he fought for the belt. I think timing is such a huge factor in this sport.”
Of course, the lightweight division is never short on contenders. Charles Oliveira has already fallen to Islam Makhachev. Arman Tsarukyan, originally scheduled to challenge for the belt at UFC 311, pulled out last minute due to injury, an unfortunate setback that may have cost him the immediate shot.
As such, Gaethje further shared, “And so with the huge win here and certainly a finish, I think they’re going to have to consider me. I’ve never fought him, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
A statement win over Fiziev could force the promotion’s hand, but nothing is guaranteed in the shark-infested waters of the lightweight division. Do you think Justin Gaethje will get his shot at the champion after UFC 313? Why or Why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Kamaru Usman Hospitalizes Justin Gaethje as Reality Behind 6 Stitches on the Chin Revealed Before UFC 313 appeared first on EssentiallySports.