Vick called Gaethje the Homer Simpson of MMA because it s true

Get the Full StoryLook at the episode where Homer was boxing and kept taking a beating and still kept saying stupid things. That s Justin Gaethje. Earlier this month at the UFC s 25th anniversary press conference, lightweight standouts James Vick and Justin Gaethje went back-and-forth on the main stage at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Gaethje, the former World Series of Fighting WSOF lightweight champion, boasted of his UFC Fight of the Night bonuses and popularity with the fans. While Vick, who is on a four-fight win streak, ridiculed Gaethje for his low fight IQ, calling the 29-year-old brawler the Homer Simpson of MMA .

Speaking to Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting in a recent interview, Vick stood by his derogatory comments towards Gaethje and said he was merely speaking the truth.

I was keeping it to the fight, and then he started mouthing off, Vick said. So that s when I called him the Homer Simpson of MMA, because it s true. Look at the episode where Homer was boxing and kept taking a beating and still kept saying stupid things. That s Justin Gaethje.

Gaethje does take a lot of punishment in his fights, but he can also dish it out. The NCAA Division I wrestler has a plethora of highlight reel knockouts to his name, hence his nick The Highlight , and has only lost to the divisional elite, dropping back-to-back losses to former champ Eddie Alvarez and surging contender Dustin Poirier.

Despite his dismissive remarks of Gaethje s Homer Simpson fighting style, Vick is well aware of his opponent s toughness and is not expecting an easy fight come Aug. 25.

I d be a fool if I pretended like Justin can t hit hard. I know what he can do, but I ve also seen what Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier did to him and I m not going to be intimidated. Everyone here is tough, Vick said.

UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick takes place next Saturday, August 25 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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