PHOENIX – Justin Gaethje has been here before , but it didn’t go his way. Not every title challenger gets a second chance, but Gaethje (23-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has that opportunity Saturday at UFC 274 against lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (32-8 MMA, 20-8 UFC). While many fans, and even some critics, believe Oliveira’s run has shown he’s shaken his old reputation as a fighter who would break mentally, Gaethje isn’t convinced a full-on evolution has occurred. “We’re talking about a man with confidence, a different person, but ultimately the same Charles is still there,” Gaethje told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at media day on Wednesday. “The same Charles that fought Cub Swanson, the same Charles that fought Donald Cerrone, the same Charles that fought RDA, Pettis – choices were made in that by him, and the choice to quit was made.
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