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Ultimate Fighting Championship
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UFC 254: Eddie Alvarez warns Khabib must be ‘ready mentally’ to handle Justin Gaethje’s ‘unique’ pressure

  • Former UFC champ Alvarez warns Khabib to prepare mentally for Gaethje’s ‘unique pressure’ in Fight Island main event
  • ‘Hopefully Khabib’s training partners were coming after him and not playing nice,’ says former UFC champ

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Eddie Alvarez battles Justin Gaethje during UFC 218 at Little Caesars Arena on December 2, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Rey Del Rio/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Nicolas Atkin

Former UFC lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez has warned Khabib Nurmagomedov must be “ready mentally” to deal with Justin Gaethje’s “unique” pressure.

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“The Eagle” (28-0) of Dagestan puts his 155-pound belt on the line against 31-year-old American interim champ Gaethje (22-2) in Saturday night’s UFC 254 main event showdown on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Alvarez (29-6), now fighting in Asian organisation ONE Championship, handed Gaethje his first career loss with a KO in the third round of a violent UFC 218 affair in December 2017, but thinks he has the style to shock undefeated 32-year-old Nurmagomedov.

“I’m taking the under in the main event,” tweeted “The Underground King”.

“Both fighters are incredible and can end the night quickly in their respected strengths. Khabib natural style beats JG [Gaethje] on most nights if he secures the TD [takedown]. Justin style is so unique I hope Khabib is ready mentally for the pressure of JG.”

“The Highlight” Gaethje earned his shot with a dominant fifth-round TKO of Tony Ferguson in a rescheduled UFC 249 main event on May 9, with Nurmagomedov stranded in Russia amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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