Good thing Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) doesn’t plan on booking Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje until later this year, because “The Highlight” was recently sidelined with a nasty cut below his chin.
“Going to need a few stitches today,” Gaethje wrote on his Instagram stories. “Caught an accidental head butt during wrestling today.”
Gaethje upset the lightweight apple cart with his UFC 249 victory over longtime contender Tony Ferguson, scoring a technical knockout finish in the fifth and final round last month in Jacksonville, Florida.
The stoppage was enough to score the 22-2 “Highlight” a shot at “The Eagle” this September after the promotion was unable to give former lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, the terms he was looking for.
That should give Gaethje plenty of time to heal the axe wound under his chin because any bout against Nurmagomedov is certain to include several rounds of intense grappling.
Assuming it lasts that long.