Surprises for Justin, details of preparation and a video about Khabib's father: five days left before the Nurmagomedov-Gatji fight

"Khabib is strong psychologically"

Five days remain until UFC 254, which will host one of the most anticipated fights of the year between Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov and American Justin Gaethje.

The lightweight champion's team arrived in Abu Dhabi from Dubai, where they held a training camp.

Summing up the results of the past several weeks, Nurmagomedov admitted that the preparation for the fight was extremely difficult for him from many points of view.

“It was a tough training camp, both physically and mentally.

No one can stop time and return to the past, only patience and work will help us, "Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram.

According to trainer Javier Mendes, most of the preparatory process for the first time was devoted to striking technique, as well as grappling.

He assured that his ward is preparing to surprise the opponent.

“In the previous camps, he worked with me on the“ hit ”every other day.

Now we sometimes do it for three days in a row.

This has never happened before, never.

And we will have new items, we are working very actively on kicks, ”Mendes said in an interview with the Ushatayka Youtube channel.

Another important element of preparation is coming to an end - the weight race.

Nurmagomedov's team was assured that the process is going according to plan, and the fighter himself currently weighs even less than the same number of days before his previous fight with Dustin Poirier.

Most consider the Russian as the favorite of the confrontation, however, according to some, Gaji is able to cause trouble for the champion and will become the most dangerous rival in Khabib's career.

Mendes disagrees with this point of view, because, in his opinion, if Nurmagomedov manages to transfer the American to the ground, he will not pose a greater threat than Conor McGregor.

“But Gaethje is, of course, a very, very serious opponent, it will not be so easy to transfer him down.

True, I do not remember people with whom it was not possible.

But in any case, Khabib will try again and again, and Justin will get very tired of this.

He doesn't feel at home in the fight.

But Khabib is there in his native element.

So if Gaethje is down on his back, he will have very serious problems, "Mendes said in an interview with TASS.

Preparations for the battle are taking place according to the plan of the fighter's father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who died in early July.

Mendes noted that the whole team lacks a mentor, but one should not worry about the psychological state of the fighter.

“Khabib is strong psychologically, he understands very well what needs to be done.

We, frankly, do not discuss the topic of the father with him at all.

We do this only through the prism of Abdulmanap's plan, which Khabib always had before the battles.

Only in this sense are we talking about this topic.

What should we do in battle, how to use this or that situation, we never get away from his father's plan, ”added Mendes.

Every fan of mixed martial arts is well aware of the importance of Nurmagomedov Sr. in the life of the UFC champion.

A touching animated video released by the British TV channel BT Sport on the eve of the battle is dedicated to their relationship and the joint path.

"I can't wait to put Khabib to bed"

Gatji has already arrived on "Boytsovsky Island".

He also shared details of his training process.

So, the fighter stressed that he did not specifically revise the previous fights of the Russian, and also did not seek help from his past rivals.

At the same time, he assured that he knows how to respond to the opponent's attempts to transfer the fight to the ground.

And the American considers his main advantage to be victories over stronger fighters than Nurmagomedov.

“Psychologically, I have been preparing for this fight as long as Khabib.

We have both been involved in this sport since childhood, we are the same age.

He has probably never fought someone who worked as hard and as hard as himself.

I didn’t work harder or harder, but I worked exactly the same, ”Izvestia quotes Gatji.

The holder of the belt of the interim lightweight champion again emphasized that he is a fan of Nurmagomedov, but he does not approve of all the actions of the Russian.

In particular, he commented on the story of a video that appeared on social networks in 2018, in which Khabib, along with his cousin, offered a homeless person to push out for money.

“I understand why he did that, but under no circumstances would I do that.

If you want to help, help.

You don't have to make them work for you if you are trying to help them.

Otherwise, I think Khabib is a cool dude.

I've met him several times, he's cocky, but that's good for him.

I think we all need to be so self-confident, ”the American explained.

At the same time, Gatzhi also confessed his dislike of Nurmagomedov's mentor, Mendes.

“He may be a good person, but he always behaved disrespectfully towards me.

So I can't wait to get Khabib to bed and ask how it feels to him, ”added Gatji.

Meanwhile, UFC President Dana White has posted a new fight video.

"Boom!

Unless it can interest you in what happens next week, then nothing can, ”White wrote.

View this post on Instagram

Posted by Dana White (@danawhite) Oct 17, 2020 6:54 am PDT

It is still not known for sure whether viewers will be allowed to UFC 254. If earlier there was information that the promotion was solving the issue of safe admission and accommodation of fans, now ESPN insider Brett Okamoto said that this plan was not approved. At the same time, invited guests will be present at the fight.