Justin Gaethje believes he was on the right track against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.
Gaethje spoke with ESPN's Megan Olivi following a second-round submission loss to the defending UFC lightweight champion. "The Highlight" told Olivi he was doing damage; however, he admitted there was a significant gap on the ground.
"It sucks. I'm hurt, it's emotional, but utlimately it's the name of the game. I had him in trouble," he assured. "I wasn't many kicks away from him not being able to walk. He's going to be limping for at least the next three weeks. That's nothing to be proud of because I lost. I felt alive and I felt great."
"I have to be better on the bottom," Gaethje confessed. "I love striking so much, I love fighting so much, but to be the best in the world you have to be great everywhere. He is better than me in grappling right now. I need to go back and, obviously, that is where my focus needs to be."
Gaethje also confirmed he was feeling fine after being choked unconcious by Nurmagomedov.
"I'm not scared to get choked out. Getting knocked out does suck because there are consequences, health wise, to that. Getting choked out is [like] you get a nice litle dream and then it's onto the next one," Gaethje told Olivi. "I'm not a doctor but I don't believe there are any serious consequences to that."
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