Justin Gaethje sees potential title implications with his victory at UFC 291.
Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) rematches Dustin Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) for the “BMF” title at the headline on July 29, which takes place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City and air on the following pay-per-view shows on ESPN and ESPN+.
Neil Dariush meets former champion Charles Oliveira in the UFC 289 co-main event on June 10. Both Gaithi and Poirier agree a win will make Dariush the number one contender to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. But if Dariush loses, Gaethje believes the next title challenger will come out of his fight with Pourier.
“These ratings are for a reason,” Gaethje said on ESPN. DC&RC. “They may not be as legitimate as we think, but he’s No. 2, I’m No. 3. No. 1 fights No. 4, and a champion needs someone to fight. I think if Dariush wins, he (Makhachev) will fight in October, and the winner of that fight will fight the winner of this fight If Oliveira wins, I think one of us will go straight back to camp.”
Gaethje and Poirier both failed twice in their quest for undisputed UFC gold. Poirier’s loss may be a major setback in terms of a title image, but “The Highlight” isn’t necessarily seen as a do-or-die situation.
“I don’t want to put myself in a position where I have to think if I lose, but I’m not going to imagine it because the fire hasn’t gone out,” said Gaethje. “When I speak in that hyperbole, I speak of the future. I speak of the reality of the situation. I am 35 a warrior by profession. I am 34. There are so many examples of going too long, and I have people around me who love me who will prevent it. I trust them, And when they want to have that conversation, I’ll listen to them. Right now, we’re ahead at full steam.”
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