In UFC 291 tonight one of the most anticipated bouts of the year featured Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in the octagon. ‘The Highlight’ did not disappoint his fans delivering an outstanding performance to finally avenge his previous loss to Dustin.
The highly awaited clash between these two legendary lightweight fighters captured a lot of attention in Salt Lake City. After a five-year wait, Justin finally got the chance to seek revenge against Dustin, and he did so in an impressive fashion.
Justin Gaethje names his favorite fighter
Following the fight, during the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, The Highlight graciously acknowledged Dustin Poirier as his favorite lightweight fighter in the world.
This shows the respect and admiration Justin holds for Dustin’s skills and accomplishments in the division. Gaethje won a lot of hearts when he said, “I told Dustin he’s my favorite fighter on Earth,”
THE BADDEST MOTHERF***ER ON THE PLANET! 🤬🏆@Justin_Gaethje beats Poirier by knockout and claims the BMF title at #UFC291!!
[ B2YB @KudoSnacks ] pic.twitter.com/tlmF6FbHCE
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Having lost their previous octagon encounter, which was widely considered the standout fight of 2018, Justin went through a lot of development as a fighter. This time around, Gaethje looked quite determined to secure a win over Dustin, and he achieved that goal with an extraordinary head kick that brought an end to the fight in the second round.
Gaethje’s focused and calculated approach led to a jaw-dropping finish, making this bout one of the most spectacular moments of his career as he said, “If you watch that [2018] fight compared to this fight, it’s night and day. It was a tough lesson to learn, but that man taught me that lesson.”
‘The Highlight’ openly acknowledged that his loss to Diamond played a pivotal role in shaping him into the fighter he is today, making Dustin his favorite fighter. This tale of redemption stands as a significant highlight in Justin’s mixed martial arts career.
“You rarely get a shot at redemption. I’m glad I came out on top this time. I surprised the s–t out of myself. You know what I want to do next. I want to fight for the world championship.” he said.
Justin Gaethje has been competing for 12 years and he's never been in a boring round, let alone a boring fight.
Every time he steps in there, he puts on a show.
If there's anyone that deserves to hold the BMF title, it's him. pic.twitter.com/semCMe6e9R
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) July 30, 2023
The new BMF champ discusses two key components of MMA fighting
The transformative experience from that defeat against Dustin in 2018 seems to have propelled Gaethje’s development, and he attributes much of his success to that very moment. This story of comeback undoubtedly remains one of the most remarkable aspects of Gaethje’s journey in the world of MMA.
During the octagon interview, Gaethje not only recognized the significance of determination and fighting skills but also emphasized that luck and chance play crucial roles in achieving success in this sport.
“Luck and chance are a factor in this cage and I just thank God I came out on the right side this time,” Gaethje said.
Khabib Nurmagomedov about Justin Gaethje: “This guy hits like a truck” #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/alLulaHb0q
— MiracleM96 (@Deli964) July 30, 2023
The Arizona-born fighter acknowledged that factors beyond one’s control can sometimes influence the outcome of a fight and that luck can be a determining factor in the competitive world of mixed martial arts.
“We take a loss, we have to sit at home and let it eat away at us. We usually never get that chance. So, to come back and prove myself — I believed in myself the whole time.” he added.
OMG!!! JUSTIN GAETHJE KNOCKS OUT PORIER COLD!!! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/2rIU54nhpQ
— Jmag (@jmagings) July 30, 2023
Gaethje is now probably looking forward to the rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev as he’s expected to face the winner for the title once again. Do you think Justin has a shot at becoming the lightweight champ this time around? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
