Justin Gaethje explains morbid UFC 300 mindset as he rules out fighting lightweight champion Islam...

Justin Gaethje has revealed he approaches his fights in a uniquely morbid manner.

‘The Highlight’ is set to defend his BMF belt against former featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

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Gaethje is already the number one contender at lightweight and a win over Holloway would almost certainly lead to a title fight with Islam Makhachev.

However, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege is expected to return to the Octagon in June and Gaethje doesn't think he'll be fit to fight again so soon after UFC 300.

In fact, the American has no plans at all for after his fight with Holloway as he enters every bout with the mindset that he could die in the Octagon.  

“I don’t play what ifs,” Gaethje said during UFC 300 media day. "But you don’t pass up a championship opportunity.

"I do want my time. I do think June would probably be impossible for me, as every time I fight is a traumatic life experience.

“I need to go home, unwind, take care of my body, take care of my head, but I have coaches and a manager that ultimately make those decisions.

"If they say go, I go. I’m a quarter mile at a time kind of guy. I do not look too far ahead.

"I honestly have no clue what the future holds. I don’t usually plan on being alive the day after my fights. So hopefully, I’m there on Sunday.”

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Gaethje has fallen short in two previous UFC title bouts against Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, but he’s fresh off a career-best knockout win over Dustin Poirier.

Despite that, Poirier may skip to the front of the queue as he’s currently available and back in the win column following his impressive display against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 last month.

No announcement has been made about Makhahcev’s next fight yet, and Gaethje is still in the running to get another title shot, if he can be ready by this summer.

First, he’s got the not-so-easy task of getting by Holloway at UFC 300.