Justin Gaethje knew he was taking a “large threat” when he signed on to combat Max Holloway at UFC 300.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA) was coming off a second-round knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in July of final yr at UFC 291 to say the promotion‘s vacant BMF title. Along with taking house the ‘Baddest Mom F**ker’ belt, ‘The Spotlight’ had seemingly cemented himself as the highest contender to problem reigning UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev.
Nonetheless, as a consequence of Ramadan, Makhachev was not out there to combat within the Spring of 2024, and moderately than anticipate the Russian champion, Justin Gaethje opted to just accept a combat with former featherweight title holder Max Holloway at UFC 300.
It was a excessive threat / low reward combat for ‘The Spotlight’, as with ‘Blessed’ predominantly preventing at featherweight, Gaethje was seemingly anticipated to get the win. Not solely that, however Justin Gaethje was placing his BMF title up for grabs whereas additionally risking a future title combat at light-weight.
In the end, the massive threat didn’t repay for the previous interim light-weight champion, as Gaethje wound up struggling a brutal fifth-round knockout loss by the hands of the Hawaiian (see that right here).
(by way of Zuffa LLC)
Justin Gaethje was pure class in his instant response to the defeat and since sat down with ‘Championship Rounds’ the place he shared the next sentiments on his dangerous choice:
Justin Gaethje has no regrets taking the Max Holloway combat, and says he is pleased for Dustin Poirier for getting the title shot:
“I’ve no regrets. I had a lot enjoyable, I feel it was such an enormous, historic card for the UFC. It was an enormous threat, I failed.
If I might’ve received that… pic.twitter.com/bIzlLDcyK4
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 20, 2024
“It’s a loopy recreation, you already know?” Gaethje instructed MMA Knockout. “I feel lots of people in my place would have sat out not taking [the Holloway fight]. I’ve no regrets. I feel it was… I had a lot enjoyable I feel it was such an enormous historic card for the UFC. And to be part of that, to be the most effective combat on that card, you already know, it’s gonna dwell on ceaselessly.
Justin Gaethje continued:
“And once more, it was an enormous threat, I failed, and if I might have received that combat, if I’d obtained a fast knockout, I might have been taking that combat (in opposition to Islam Makhachev), however it’s simply the secret.”
As for Dustin Poirier receiving the following title shot in opposition to Islam Makhachev, ‘The Spotlight’ had nothing however good issues to say about ‘The Diamond’:
“I’m pleased for Dustin. Good for him. Someone needed to combat. I feel it doesn’t matter what, win or lose, it was gonna be just about unimaginable flip round and combat in 5 or 6 weeks. So, that is the way in which that UFC wished to go. And so, I suppose, you already know, I can’t complain about it as a result of I don’t wish to sound like… I actually haven’t any complaints as a result of it’s what it’s. I’m not gonna let it eat me up.”
Who would you wish to see Justin Gaethje combat in his subsequent Octagon look?