UFC News: Justin Gaethje Can Ruin Dustin Poirier’s Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev, UFC Veteran Explains How

What a difference a win can make! Dustin Poirier, whose career was virtually in no man’s land following his second-round head-kick knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, stopped dangerous lightweight prospect Benoit Saint-Denis. All that in the second round of their UFC 299 bout to potentially fight for the title in his next fight!

‘BSD’ was the favorite going into the bout and easily won the first. But, Poirier rallied back and managed to knockout the Frenchman in the second. After his victory, he was offered a title shot by champion Islam Makhchev. Makhachev wants to fight in June, and with Justin Gaetheje fighting on UFC 300 in April, ‘Diamond’ has emerged as the ideal candidate. And Michael Bisping thinks that Justin Gaehtje may play the spoiler.

Bisping thinks Justin Gaethje may agree to fight Makhachev in June

In a recent video on his official YouTube channel, UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping analyzed the landscape of the lightweight division. The former middleweight champion was in favor of Dustin Poirier facing Islam Makhachev in June. Nevertheless, Justin Gaethje, the strongest contender for a title shot in the division at the moment, could potentially spoil Poirier’s title chances if he manages to win his UFC 300 bout against Max Holloway without taking much damage.

While he felt that given the quick turnaround time, Gaethje is most likely to refuse to take a fight against Makhachev in June, he felt that ‘The Human Highlight’ should agree to it, but felt that Poirier has the edge given the timing.

“Who does Islam fight next? I said it myself, I think that Dustin Poirier is right up there, okay? Of course, there’s Justin Gaethje if he gets through unscathed against Max Holloway for the BMF title in a couple of weeks, okay. That is the number one contender on paper. But will he get through unscathed? Will Justin Gaethje want to go straight into camp? My advice for Justin would be yes… I’m just saying because of the timing, it could be Dustin Poirier,” he said.

This uncertainty has also been commented on by Khabib Niurmagomedov who felt that Gaethje should not be fighting Holloway on UFC 300 and felt it was a mistake on the UFC’s part.

Khabib trashes UFC 300 matchmaking

Khabib Nurmagomedov felt Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje had needlessly complicated two weight divisions and felt ‘Blessed’ should have been gearing up to face new featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the near future, instead. And Holloway’s upcoming opponent, Justin Gaethje should have been booked for for the lightweight crown against Islam Makhachev, according to him. He added that the winner of the UFC 300 number one title contender bout between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan should have then fought the winner of Makhachev-Gaethje for the title.

“All respect for Max Holloway, but I don’t know, and I don’t understand why UFC make this fight. Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway: It makes no sense – (that’s) my opinion. My opinion, Holloway is supposed to fight with (Ilia) Topuria next, maybe September. Justin Gaethje is supposed to fight with Islam in May or June, and Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira, they fight in April. Whoever wins that (should be fighting) the winner of Islam vs. Justin Gaethje,” Nurmagomedov said in a recent interview.

Given this, it is good for Dustin Poirier that Gaethje is booked for UFC 300 and unlikely to fight again in June since the reason Makhachev has offered him the fight over ‘The Human Highlight’ was because of availability, according to the champion himself. And if he misses out on this, he will have a much tougher road to fighting for the title again.

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