Justin Gaethje took a significant risk when he agreed to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300, hoping for a potential matchup against UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. Unfortunately, Gaethje suffered a brutal last-second knockout at the hands of Holloway, ending his chances at a title shot. Despite the loss, Gaethje expressed no regrets, emphasizing that he had a great time and was proud to be part of such a historic event.
With Gaethje out of the picture, the next fighter to face Makhachev will be Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Poirier, who was defeated by Gaethje at UFC 291, bounced back with a knockout victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299. Despite his loss, Gaethje remains the No. 3 ranked fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings, one spot ahead of Poirier. Gaethje acknowledged that the only way he could have accepted a fight against Makhachev at UFC 302 was if he had quickly knocked out Holloway.
Gaethje expressed happiness for Poirier and acknowledged that someone had to fight Makhachev. He mentioned that had he won, it would have been impossible to prepare for a fight in five or six weeks. Gaethje received a consolation of a $300,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus for his performance against Holloway, providing some comfort after his devastating loss. Despite the disappointment, Gaethje accepted the UFC’s decision and refrained from complaining.
In conclusion, Justin Gaethje faced a tough loss at UFC 300 against Max Holloway, leading to the end of his hopes for a title shot against Islam Makhachev. Despite the setback, Gaethje remained positive and emphasized his enjoyment of being part of such a significant event. Dustin Poirier will now face Makhachev at UFC 302, as Gaethje acknowledged that it was not feasible for him to fight on such short notice. Despite the turn of events, Gaethje received a substantial bonus for his efforts and accepted the UFC’s decision with grace.
