Gaethje calls Poirier rematch ‘Fight of the Century’, gives timeline for return

Justin Gaethje wants a rematch against Dustin Poirier. Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports

Top ranked lightweights Justin Gaethje wants to have a rematch with Dustin Poirier in order to be able to get one more shot at the title.

“I need to fight Dustin in August, September, or October to put me on that perfect timeline,” Gaethje said in an interview with MMA Fighting.

Their first crazy and violent clash was one of the best UFC fights in 2018, and Poirier has indicated that he’s interested in a rematch on 2023.

“You can’t force anybody to fight. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to fight me, but he probably doesn’t need to ever fight again with how much money he’s made,” Gaethje said. “So I don’t know. I think he’ll take it. Some people around me think he won’t take it. All I can do is focus on myself in that regard.”

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Justin Gaethje: “Nothing short of Fight of the Century”

Since the fight in 2018, both Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirer has been lightweight interim champions and faced fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.

“I think we’re both different fighters. Obviously, that was five years ago,” Gaethje said. “So yeah, it’s a different ballgame, but a fight’s a fight. At the end of the day, I think he’s got phenomenal skills, he’s a hell of a matchup for me, and nothing short of Fight of the Century again.”

“The only thing is obviously anyone that steps in there comes out with a lot of damage, so you ask yourself, do you want to take that risk? ‘Do I need to take that risk?’ I can’t be sure that the answer’s yes, but I hope so,” Gaethje said.

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