Justin Gaethje had an impressive performance against Paddy Pimblett earlier this year to take home the interim lightweight title, but still feels he missed an opportune moment to finish the fight in the fourth.
With the win over Pimblett behind him, Gaethje will now attempt to capture the undisputed title when he meets champion Ilia Topuria on the South Lawn of the White House for the main event of UFC Freedom 250. This will be Gaethje’s third attempt to capture the lightweight title, after failing to do so against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Charles Oliveira in 2022.
Even thought Gaethje outclassed Pimblett in the striking department back in January, he said that there was a moment in the fourth round where he had a front headlock on ‘The Baddy’, and he feels he could have finished the fight with a surprise choke. Gaethje has never been known for his submission prowess, so if he were able to secure a choke on Pimblett, who flexes his grappling in the cage far more often, it would be quite a shock.
“I was really happy with my performance,” he said on the Out Cold podcast.
“I wish I had D’Arce choked his ass when I had him in the front headlock position for the last time.
“Maybe in the fourth round, he was tired and exhausted, and I could’ve gotten him.
“I could have surprised the world, but I wanted to keep punching him.”
(h/t Bloody Elbow)