UFC 300 Justin Gaethje Update: “I’m in Great Spirits”- Ex-BMF Champ Breaks Silence After Humbling Max Holloway Defeat

Justin Gaethje extended his congratulations and revealed his state of mind following his UFC 300 loss to Max Holloway, which saw ‘The Human Highlight’ get knocked out in the dying seconds of their BMF title bout. While Gaethje, the favorite going into the bout got dominated for the majority of the five rounds, the fight was arguably the best fight on the electric anniversary mega-card.

Holloway went home with the well-deserved BMF title, and an extra $600,000 in ‘Performance of the Night’ and ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses. On the other hand, while the bout was certainly a setback for the lightweight, he at least got the $300k ‘FOTN’ bonus, and is in good spirits as he conveyed in his first tweet after the loss.

“I’m in great spirits with my family. Thanks for all the love. What a sport. @BlessedMMA you’re a dog. Congrats. Well deserved double bonus #ufc300,” Gaethje wrote. The 35-year-old was quite complementary of Holloway, and seems not to have taken the loss to heart. While Holloway has opened the door to another featherweight title shot, and even a possible go at the lightweight title in the future, Gaethje’s title shot chances have plummeted after the electrifying bout.

What next for Justin Gaethje?

Justin Gaethje was on top of the lightweight title ladder, with champion Islam Makhachev and his manager calling for a bout against Gaethje since last year. But, with his loss to Holloway and the other developments on the card, the former BMF champion has lost any chance at fighting for the title next. He will probably have to fight at least one and probably more top-5 contenders before he gets to fight for the 155-pound title.

Makhachev will fight Dustin Poirier on June 1, Dana White announced after UFC 300. The winner of that bout will most probably fight Arman Tsarukyan, who defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 to become the next lightweight title contender.

The fight that makes the most sense for Gaethje is a rematch against Charles Oliveira. With both having been very much in the 155-pound title mix before their respective UFC 300 defeats and being ranked in the top-five (so far at least), a clash between the two seems in order. And if Poirier, whom Gaethje and Oliveira have defeated already becomes champion in June, both of their paths to a title shot will be a lot clearer and easier. A lot, of course depends upon what happens in the lightweight division over the next year or so.

If a new contender emerges, like Tsarukyan did last year, a title eliminator against the winner of Gaethje-Oliveira will be a sensible matchup. Or, the UFC may feel that the division needs some new blood, and may relegate the veterans to gatekeeping against other, up-and-coming contenders. What are your thoughts on UFC 300?