Justin Gaethje knew he was taking a “huge risk” when he signed on to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA) was looking to win the promotion's vacant BMF title with a second-round knockout win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 last July. In addition to taking the Baddest Mother Fucker belt, “The Highlight'' appeared to solidify his position as the top contender to challenge current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
However, due to Ramadan, Makhachev will not be able to compete in the spring 2024 bout, and Justin Gaethje has opted to accept a bout with former featherweight titleholder Max Holloway at UFC 300 rather than wait for the Russian champion. did.
Like Blessed, who primarily fights in the featherweight division, it was a high-risk, low-reward fight for The Highlight, and Gaethje was expected to win. Not only that, but Justin Gaethje was also putting his BMF title on the line and risking a future lightweight title fight.
In the end, the big risk didn't pay off for the former interim lightweight champion, as Gaethje suffered a brutal fifth-round knockout at the hands of the Hawaiian (watch it here).
(via Zuffa LLC)
Justin Gaethje's immediate reaction to the loss was purely top-notch, and he has since participated in the “Championship Round” and shared his thoughts on the risky decision:
Justin Gaethje says he has no regrets about fighting Max Holloway and is happy that Dustin Poirier won the title:
“I have no regrets. It was a lot of fun and I think it was a huge, historic card for the UFC. We took a big risk and we failed.”
If I had won that… pic.twitter.com/bIzlLDcyK4
— Championship Round (@ChampRDS) April 20, 2024
“This is a crazy game, you know?” Gaethje told MMA Knockout. “I think a lot of people in my position would have sat down and not taken it.” [the Holloway fight]. No regrets. I think it was…I think it was a huge, historic card for the UFC because it was a lot of fun. And to be a part of that, to be the best fight on that card, that will live on forever.
Justin Gaethje continued:
“And again, it was a big risk. I failed. If I had won that fight and got knocked out right away, I would have taken that fight (against Islam Makhachev), but it was It’s just a name” game. “
The Highlights had nothing but good things to say about The Diamond as Dustin Poirier earns his next title shot against Islam Makhachev.
“I'm happy for Dustin. Good for him. Someone had to fight. Win or lose, I think it's almost impossible to come back and fight in five or six weeks. I mean, This is the way the UFC wanted it to go. So I can't complain about it because I don't want it to seem that way…I don't really have any complaints about it because it is what it is. I'm not going to allow myself to be eaten.”
Who would you like to see Justin Gaethje fight the next time he steps into the Octagon?
