Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Justin Gaethje returned to the Victory column at the UFC 313 and held online for a marquee match, but there is a big name that he is not interested in reviewing in the octagon: the double opponent Dustin Poirier.
The light stars clashed twice, Poirier winning a spectacular Knock-Out of Gaethje’s fourth round when they fought for the first time in April 2018 and Gaeths avenged this loss with a head kick to rejection at the UFC 291 five years later. With Gaethje and Poirier at the twilight of their career, a third confrontation between them was often discussed among fans and the media.
After his victory over Rafael Fiziev on Saturday, Gaethje explained why he didn’t want to meet Poirier in a trilogy fight.
“No,” said Gaethje at the press conference after the evening fight. “I have repeatedly said that I do not think that one or the other of our families deserves it. We are 1-1. I agree with that. If he agrees with that, then no.
“I think we are candidates if we are fighting other people. If I beat it, I don’t think one of us was considered a competitor. »»
Asked his opinion on which Poirier should face in a retirement fight, Gaethje suggested that he gets another crack to the current light champion.
“I don’t know, it’s a good question,” said Gaethje. “Makhachev.”
Poirier actually exceeded Gaethje in the title race after their second fight, despite the defeat. “The Diamond” rebounded with a victory over the candidate for rapid growth Benoit Saint Denis at the UFC 299 and the timing worked for him to fight Islam Makhachev at the UFC 302 the following June. Makhachev beat Poirier via a fifth round submission to keep the light title.
Gaethje challenged twice for the undisputed championship, but missed a third opportunity when he was in the wrong end of a Knock-out bursting in the hands of Max Holloway at the UFC 300. With a victory over Fiziev and another night fight in his pocket, Gaethje’s goal is the same: to become the light champion of the UFC.
“I want to fight for the belt, of course,” said Gaethje. “It’s a very different match from what I came. They tried to give me a donut. I took a bite, but I have to get back if I will fight Makhachev. “”
