Justin Gaethje Weighs in on Dustin Poirier Getting Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev

Justin Gaethje doesn’t regret fighting Max Holloway instead of waiting for a title shot that will now go to Dustin Poirier.

Gaethje defeated Poirier via a vicious head-kick KO last year to earn the BMF title and bolster his relevance in the lightweight title picture. Poirier bounced back from the loss with a highlight-reel knockout win over surging contender Benoit St. Denis at UFC 299 last month, making a case for the next title shot.

While Gaethje would also have a legitimate claim to the next lightweight gold bid, “The Highlight” put his BMF strap in the line against Max Holloway at UFC 300 earlier this month. With champ Islam Makhachev adamant on defending his title this summer, the turnaround would be unlikely for the winner of that fight.

Gaethje admits that he ruled himself out of the next title shot by accepting the UFC 300 booking against Holloway. Makhachev will now defend his title against Poirier in the main event at UFC 302 on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

However, despite suffering a knockout loss, Gaethje doesn’t regret taking the fight against Holloway. Gaethje further noted that it would have been impossible for him to fight Makhachev this summer regardless of the outcome of his clash against Holloway. While Gaethje had previously admitted that he would be annoyed with Poirier getting the next shot, he now claims to be happy for “The Diamond.”

“Crazy game you know,” Gaethje told MMA Knockout. “Lot of people in my position would have sat out, not taken that fight and waited for that title fight. But I have no regrets. I had so much fun. I think it was such a huge historic card for the UFC, and to be part of that and to be the best fight on that card is going to live on forever.

“Again, it was huge risk. I failed. If I would have won that fight, if I would have got a quick knockout, I would have taken that [title] fight. I would have that fight. But it’s just the name of the game. I’m happy for Dustin, good for him, somebody had to fight Makhachev. No matter win or lose it was gonna be – obviously if I won, it would be impossible to turnaround a fight in five or six weeks. So this is the way the UFC wanted to go, and so I guess I can’t complain about it.”