If
the stars align, Justin Gaethje would be open to a third meeting
with Dustin Poirier. | Getty/UFC
Justin
Gaethje won’t deny Dustin
Poirier a rubber fight if he comes out of retirement.
Gaethje (27-5) won the interim lightweight title with a brutal
beating of Paddy
Pimblett at UFC 324
last month. While Poirier retired last year, Gaethje’s performance
against Pimblett made him open to a return. Having gone 1-1
head-to-head with Gaethje, Poirier expressed interest in ending his
retirement for a rubber fight against “The Highlight.”
Gaethje is also open to a trilogy fight against “The Diamond” if
all concerned parties are interested. However, Gaethje is expected
to unify the lightweight title against champion Ilia
Topuria later this year. While Gaethje won’t turn down a fight
against Poirier, he admits that he is primarily focused on moving
forward.
Respect for a Warrior
“Dustin’s a warrior and I’ll always respect him,” Gaethje told
Bloody Elbow. “If he really wants to come back
and the UFC wants that fight, I’d do it. But I’m focused on moving
forward, not backward. I’ve got goals I’m chasing, and that’s where
my attention is.”
Gaethje suffered a fourth-round technical knockout loss in his
first meeting with Poirier in 2018. Gaethje exacted revenge by
putting Poirier to sleep with a brutal head kick in their rematch
in 2023. Poirier retired following a unanimous decision loss
against Max
Holloway last year.