During a recent episode of the Weekly Scraps podcast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and his co-host expressed serious doubts about Justin Gaethje’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu abilities ahead of his upcoming fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 323.
The discussion arose while analyzing potential outcomes of the lightweight matchup, with Sterling’s co-host making a bold prediction favoring Pimblett. “I just think Paddy is just durable,” he explained, suggesting that Pimblett’s grappling prowess could pose significant problems for Gaethje. The co-host went as far as predicting a submission victory, stating he believes Pimblett is “good enough where he can build from that and still get a” finish on the ground.
What made the conversation particularly striking was their frank assessment of Gaethje’s ground game. “I unfortunately just don’t trust Justin Gaethje jiu-jitsu enough,” Sterling’s co-host admitted candidly. He then made an even more damning observation: “Justin Gaethje would admit that his jiu-jitsu is nonexistent. I don’t even know if he actually goes to jiu-jitsu class.”
Sterling acknowledged the validity of these concerns, noting that while Gaethje has been submitted by elite competitors, his defensive grappling still appears fundamentally flawed.
His co-host agreed, adding, “When it hit the ground, he just didn’t look just well schooled enough down there. Like if you’re actually just watching him, you’re like, ‘Come on, man.’ Like you’re not doing the correct things is the problem.”
The pair expressed particular concern about Pimblett’s submission threat, with Sterling’s co-host warning, “I swear to God, if this guy gets submitted with a rear naked choke, I’m going to be pissed because that’s the most basic thing you could go and say, I can learn this.”
Despite their reservations about Gaethje’s grappling, both acknowledged his striking superiority and recent improvements. They noted that since his first match with Dustin Poirier, Gaethje has fought more methodically and even incorporated wrestling when necessary. However, they remained concerned that his ground game deficiencies could prove decisive if Pimblett manages to drag the fight to the mat.
