Dustin Poirier Says A Fight Against Justin Gaethje Makes Him Nervous And Motivates Him

Dustin Poirier would be interested in facing Justin Gaethje next because it is a fight that motivates him and makes him nervous.

Poirier Gaethje
Credit Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje on Instagram

Dustin Poirier would be willing to take a fight with Justin Gaethje following his win at UFC 286. 

The list of UFC lightweight fighters looking for a title shot is long. The problem is that there is no clear-cut number-one contender. Each of the top five could make a case for a shot at champion Islam Makhachev next but they may need to fight their way there. There is a bout already set between Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira later this year. The winner of the fight could earn a shot at the champ. Also, there is Justin Gaethje who just defeated Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286. He has called for a fight with Dustin Poirier, and it seems that Poirier might be interested. 

Gaethje and Poirier fought back in 2018, in Gaethje’s third fight in the UFC. Poirier won that bout by TKO and later went on to fight for the title. Now, these two are looking for a way to solidify themselves as the number one contender and perhaps fighting each other would be the best way to do it. 

Dustin Poirier says a fight with Justin Gaethje makes him nervous

Poirier last fought back in November when he beat Michael Chandler. Since then he has been noncommittal about his next fight. He had mentioned waiting until he was offered a name that excites him and it seems that now he has found that. He spoke about this to Amy Kaplan of Fansided MMA.

“It’s a fight that makes me nervous and when I hear a name and I get nervous, it’s motivation,” he said. “You know, those are the kind of fights that I like. Same thing with Chandler, when I heard Chandler’s name when they called me with Michael Chandler I was nervous because I knew the dangers of those kinds of fights and that’s what motivates me. So same thing with Justin. If they do call me, and he’s the name that they say, maybe it happens.”

It would make sense for these two to fight each other and the UFC must know this as well. It seems likely that the matchmakers will offer the bout to Poirier and he will accept. A good date for this bout would be summer and perhaps during International Fight week in July. However, there are many fighters who want on that IFW card, and only so many spots are available. 

Published on March 22, 2023 at 9:43 am
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