UFC star Justin Gaethje has "the skills to beat" Khabib Nurmagomedov, says lightweight contender Dan Hooker.
Interim UFC lightweight champion Gaethje is set to fight Nurmagomedov for the undisputed UFC lightweight title in September.
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'The Highlight' scored a huge win in his last Octagon outing as he stopped Tony Ferguson with the undefeated Russian fighter in his sights.
And Hooker likes Gaethje's chances against Nurmagomedov and believes it's a 50/50 clash.
"I feel like that's [Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje] an even contest as well," Hooker said via Low Kick MMA.
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"I feel like that's a 50/50 contest. I feel like Gaethje has the skills to beat him, like, a good pace, good pressure, knockout ability, and a very strong defensive wrestler. So, if you're gonna design a fighter to give Khabib trouble, I would pick the skills that are there in Justin Gaethje to get the job done against Khabib.
"But then again, if you're gonna be picking skills to pick apart Justin Gaethje, I think I'm the guy to do that. So, I think it's just funny how all of these styles match up."
Hooker, meanwhile, returns to action on Saturday when he faces Dustin Poirier, who boasts a stoppage victory over Gaethje.
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The Kiwi added: "If someone knocks you out, you obviously want them to do well and see them succeed cause it makes you look better.
"Like, if I go out there and I knock Dustin Poirier out, then it makes Gaethje kind of look like a bum.
"So, I guess he doesn't want that and so he wants - I think it's a 50/50 fight, me and Poirier. I think there's equal chance that he knocks me out or I knock him out, and I'm prepared for that kind of fight. So, of course Gaethje is going to hedge his bets against a guy that's flatlined him."
Featured Image Credit:Topics:Β Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, UFC News, Dan Hooker, Fight News, UFC, MMA
