WSOF 33 headliner and champ Justin Gaethje open to champ-vs.-champ fight with Lance Palmer

While some os his WSOF 33 colleagues were probably counting the water droplets that entered their bodies, lightweight champ Justin Gaethje was having entire meals.

Speaking to MMAjunkie Radio right after officially weighing in for tonight’s headliner, Gaethje talked about a fight-week diet that involved pasta, sushi and Pedialyt. However, as relatively breezy as making the 155-pound limit was, the champ said he has no plans to move down a division.

That’s not to say, however, that a fight against featherweight champ Lance Palmer is out of question. They would just, Gaethje explained, have to meet in the middle. And he sure drives a hard bargain.

“I’ll meet (Palmer) at 152.6 (pounds),” said Gaethje, adding a laugh. “No – the last two or three pounds were tough, but like I said, I do perform well whenever I have to do that to myself. I mean, hell, for the right money, yes, you are correct.”

“I learned some tough-ass lessons in wrestling, and this is the way I perform. I perform the best whenever I do my weight cut correctly.”

Before thinking about Palmer (11-2), however, Gaethje (16-0) has an immediate challenge that he’s in no way looking past. Aiming for his fifth title defense, this time against Ozzy Dugulubgov (8-2), the champ talked about a quite unique mental approach to his fight camp.

Instead of constantly assuring he’s the best, Gaethje said, he tells himself his opponent is better.

“Every camp, I doubt myself,” Gaethje said. “I’m constantly doubting my work ethic, and I think that’s what makes me get up. Every day of this fight, I told myself that Ozzy is better than me, that Ozzy is training harder than me.

“So I have no other option than to get up and to push myself 100 percent every day. I have a lot to prove in this sport. I take it one fight at a time, and each training camp is the biggest fight of my life.”

WSOF 33 takes place at Kansas City Memorial Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. NBCSN carries the main card after prelims on MMAjunkie.

You would think that Gaethje, an undefeated 27-year-old must-watch with a highly entertaining style, might see himself as, well, unbeatable. But that is certainly not the case. In fact, the No. 7 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings likes to think that he can always be knocked out.

His goal, he says, is to train at the best of his abilities. And he’ll be fine with whatever comes next.

“It’s not lack of confidence, by any means,” Gaethje said. “You have to be content with every outcome and, with four-ounce gloves – obviously it’s not easy for them to hit me, but it just takes one shot. (Luis) Palomino hit me with a couple that should have put me to sleep, so I don’t know why they didn’t, but as long as I am content with my training camp, then I’m content with the outcome.

“I know in my training camp I will not take a shortcut, I won’t drink a soda in 12 weeks. If I was to lose, then I’d be content because I’ll know for a fact that I did everything that I have.”

Dugulubgov rides a three-fight winning streak into tonight’s headlining scrap. Riding a three-TKO streak of his own – adding up to an overall 14 career finishes – Gaethje promises to deliver what has come to be expected of him: aggression.

“This guy, he throws a hell of a spinning back kick,” Gaethje said. “If that lands on your head or your liver, it’s not going to feel good. You’re probably going to go to sleep or have to quit.

“I put pressure on people. He needs space for all those things he does well. He’s going to have some pressure on him for this fight. I’m coming after him. I’m coming blazing this fight. This fight I will put him in a dog fight.”

For more on WSOF 33, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show, available on SiriusXM Ch. 93, is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.