Justin Gaethje Sets Sights on Lightweight Redemption Following BMF Victory
Justin Gaethje, the newly crowned BMF champion, recently admitted that he wasn’t even aware of how effective his head kick was during his fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. Gaethje, who connected with the head kick early on and ultimately finished the fight with it in the second round, revealed that his primary concern was avoiding Poirier’s dangerous left hand.
Reflecting on his triumph over Poirier and the acquisition of the symbolic BMF belt, Gaethje now has his sights set on another shot at the lightweight title. Having already fought for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship twice and coming up short against both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, Gaethje believes it’s time for redemption.
When asked about his future in the division, Gaethje stated, We’ll see, man. The UFC is the guy, they make the calls. So we’ll see what happens. I have no idea. However, Gaethje made it clear that he isn’t particularly interested in stepping in as a replacement for the Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira rematch, unless he is offered a significant financial incentive.
Between the two potential opponents, Gaethje has a clear preference – he wants a chance to avenge his loss against Charles Oliveira. Explaining his choice, Gaethje emphasized his competitive nature, stating, I’d prefer Charles because he beat me. I’m a competitor, and this chance at redemption was amazing. It drove me to work harder and be more prepared. They’re the best in the world, and I want to fight the best in the world. After the last fight, I couldn’t see Charles winning, but I can hope.
While a rubber match with Poirier is a possibility, Gaethje isn’t particularly enthusiastic about the idea. He revealed that after their recent bout, he proposed to Poirier that they agree to never fight each other again, unless circumstances make it inevitable. However, Gaethje acknowledged that they are currently tied at 1-1, implying that he wouldn’t deny Poirier the opportunity if it arises.
Another potential matchup that has gained attention is a fight against Conor McGregor. After Gaethje’s victory over Poirier, McGregor made his presence known on social media, expressing interest in facing Gaethje and claiming to be the real BMF. Gaethje responded by revealing that McGregor has turned down six previous offers to fight him, and the fight would typically require Gaethje to lose a match before it happens. However, Gaethje expressed hesitancy due to concerns about McGregor’s absence from the USADA drug testing pool, stating, I’m not going to fight someone on steroids. I’ve never taken steroids in my life. Never will…I don’t want to fight someone that is cheating.
While Gaethje is open to the possibility of fighting McGregor, he made it clear that he doesn’t particularly care about McGregor’s callout. Instead, Gaethje focuses on his passion for MMA and his desire to participate in big, exciting fights.
With his eyes on redemption and a burning ambition to fight the best in the world, Justin Gaethje eagerly awaits his next challenge in the lightweight division. Whether it’s Oliveira, McGregor, or someone else entirely, one thing is for certain – Gaethje’s unwavering dedication to the sport will continue to make him a formidable force in the Octagon.
