Justin Gaethje is taking on Dustin Poirier in a rematch of the acclaimed bout in 2018 which Poirier won in the fourth round via TKO. Both men have enjoyed almost equal success since their first fight and have become household names in the UFC. They have entertained the masses countless times over the years, and fans are salivating at the prospect of witnessing another war between the two lightweight stars.
In an interview on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, Gaethje said that he was looking forward to having a chance at redemption this Saturday night, something which the sport of mixed-martial arts rarely gives fighters. The ‘redemption’ comment didn’t sound personal; it spoke more of Gaethje’s competitive nature.
How Gaethje sees the fight
DC got straight into technical analysis, complimenting Gaethje on his impressive jab, which he had great success with against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286. With Poirier being a southpaw, the jab may be less effective, and Cormier asked Gaethje what he has done in his preparations to enable him to get to Poirier using his backhand.
”I think it’s about creating angles. I’ve got to create different angles and make him (Poirier) make mistakes. I’ve got to keep him on his back foot and make him commit to shots when he’s moving backward.”
Speaking about the first fight, Gaethje said that it wasn’t on his mind; he’s treating Poirier as a fresh opponent. It’s easy to see why he has this mindset, as five years is a very long time in the UFC, particularly when both fighters are now at the very highest level.
”I don’t think about the first at all. I was a completely different athlete, a completely different person. With age comes wisdom; I’ve had a lot of experience since that day, the same as him. I’ve got to go in there and fight my fight. I’ve had the most success when I have been in control.”
Justin Gaethje has a reputation for ‘bringing the chaos,’ and he certainly lives up to his nickname of ‘The Highlight.’ However, in recent fights, we have seen a more composed, patient version of him. While Gaethje is still as entertaining as ever, he now picks his shots more. Gaethje told DC that every time Poirier comes into his range on Saturday night, he will be looking to land a shot on his opponent to make him have second thoughts.
The BMF Title
Up for grabs at UFC 291 is the ‘BMF’ title currently occupied by Jorge Masvidal following his victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. The BMF belt is controversial in that many argue the belt was only created to make up for the fact that a title is not in the line for a PPV card. UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has criticized the title, saying that it was ‘for bums.’ Something which ‘The Highlight’ disagrees with.
”Only two people in the history of this sport have fought for it, said Gaethje. It’s going to look great on my wall, and it will be great for my legacy. We [fighters] want to be remembered when we’re done, and this [BMF title] does that.” Jorge Masvidal is expected to attend UFC 291 to strap the belt on the winner of Poirier vs Gaethje in Salt Lake City.
It’s clear from the interview with Cormier – and from the interviews all fight week – that there is mutual respect between UFC 291 headliners, and Gaethje said that he can’t afford to make mistakes against somebody like Poirier. He wants to avoid lengthy exchanges and spending time against the fence with ‘The Diamond.’
UFC 291 takes place on Saturday, July 29, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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