Justin Gaethje isn’t ruling out yet another run on the UFC light-weight title, and he sees 4 life like opponents to make step one.
Regardless of struggling the worst lack of his profession with a highlight-reel knockout towards Max Holloway of their BMF title battle at UFC 300 in April, Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is trying on the panorama of the 155-pound division and nonetheless sees some openings.
Champ Islam Makhachev is predicted to defend towards Arman Tsarukyan in early 2025 as soon as he recovers from damage, however after that, there isn’t any clear No. 1 contender. Gaethje thinks he might begin rebuilding his resume if he will get one in all 4 attainable matchups.
“I feel Dustin Poirier, I beat him, he fought for a belt (and) there’s at all times these sure set of circumstances that may occur which is able to result in (a title shot),” Gaethje advised MMA Junkie and different reporters throughout a latest media scrum. “I feel this battle with (Makhachev) and Tsarukyan is the subsequent battle, then there’s sort of one other alternative for anyone like how Dustin Poirier stepped in. There’s not a transparent contender.
“I’ve to battle and win then I’m proper again in there. I’ve an inventory. I feel (Dan) Hooker, (Charles) Oliveira, Poirier and (Alexander) Volkanovski is an inventory of 4 those who I feel any of these would do for me what I have to do to get again within the image.”
The concept of one other battle with Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) to settle their trilogy has been compelling to many MMA followers since Gaethje evened the sequence with a head kick knockout end at UFC 291 in July 2023. “The Diamond” gained the primary assembly by fourth-round TKO at UFC on FOX 29 in April 2018.
Gaethje stated the prospect of a rubber match with Poirier isn’t that compelling and would probably be on the backside of his four-name record.
“No (I wouldn’t be bummed if we will’t settle the trilogy),” Gaethje stated. “I walked out of there after we had been 1-1, I stated, ‘Let’s not do it once more.’ I’m not saying I don’t need to or no matter, however that was the dialog we had that evening as a result of we’re 1-1 and we’re taking years from one another’s lives. So we will battle a few of these younger children, however we’ll see what occurs.”
Poirier caught wind of Gaethje’s feedback and appeared to have a distinct opinion, welcoming the matchup on social media for his seemingly deliberate retirement battle.
You realize I am down 💎 https://t.co/ycuhUKrd86
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 13, 2024
With Gaethje, 35, having some opponent potentialities in thoughts, it’s now about figuring out the timeline. The previous interim UFC champ vowed to take a legit break from sparring after the devastating knockout vs. Holloway at UFC 300, and though he’s caught to his weapons thus far, he admits it’s getting harder to remain out of the health club.
“I stated I used to be going to take six months earlier than I sparred – it’s been 4,” Gaethje stated. “I’m going to have a troublesome time making it six months as a result of I’m itching, however I feel I’m going to provide it one other month earlier than I spar after which get again into camp. We’ll see. My coach, supervisor – they’ll resolve (when the subsequent battle is).”
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