Justin Gaethje reveals his master plan to be first fighter to beat Khabib in UFC including brutal leg kicks

JUSTIN GAETHJE plans to use brutal leg kicks and cardio in his bid to become the first UFC fighter ever to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The American destroyed Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in Florida on May 9 and now has the Russian champion in his sights on Saturday night.

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The hotly anticipated clash takes place at Fight Island and Gaethje has always had a plan for how to take down unbeaten Khabib.

He told ESPN back in May: "I'll work to be my best self. I'm so athletic.

"The first thing to go when you get tired is your legs, so my legs, from now until then, I'm going to be running a lot, jump rope a lot, a lot of step ups, squats.

"If my legs are in shape I don't get tired. If I don't get tired, I can get back up. If I can get back up, I can hit him like a truck.

"I have only got to kick him eight times in the calves before he's compromised. There's lots of factors. I'm going to work on being me, stay in shape. It's all cardio."

Flight restrictions meant Khabib had to pull out of his bout with Ferguson at the original UFC 249 and he was unable to attend the rescheduled event.

And Gaethje - who stepped in to beat Ferguson with a fifth round stoppage - was already looking at getting his teeth into the Russian world champ then.

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Despite reports linking him with a clash with Conor McGregor, Gaethje always maintained he wanted to take on Notorious' nemesis Khabib.

And now he has his wish.

Gaethje added: "That's the fight I want [rather than clash with Conor McGregor]. I earned it. I deserve it. It's the only fight out there for me right now.

"I'm glad I have a little bit of a say, because one thing I want to focus on is bringing a little bit of legitimacy to the process.

"I want young guys to know, when you come to the UFC and you win, you fight someone in front of you. You lose, you fight someone behind you.

"And if you win enough times against ranked guys and get the interim title, then you fight for the belt.

"The NFL and NBA there are play-offs so they know how it works, there's an answer.

"We don't have that. So I'm glad I get a little bit of a say. That's the only fight that's right, that makes sense."

Earlier this week, Gaethje revealed he will force his mum to retire after the fight in an emotional tribute to his parents.