Dustin Poirier wanted the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Eddie Alvarez, but he’ll have to settle for the loser of the bout, Justin Gaethje.
MMA Junkie first reported the pairing of high-level lightweights.
Dustin Poirier might not have received his requested rematch, but the alternative of a bout between Justin Gaethje and Poirier is more than welcome in terms of entertainment. Both men are known for their aggressive styles, with Gaethje being known as one of the most violent men in the UFC. Poirier is the owner of four Fight of the Night awards, and three additional performance bonuses. Gaethje has only fought twice in the UFC so far, but has earned Fight of the Night both times.
Dustin Poirier was a long-time featherweight with an 8-3 record in the Octagon at 145-pounds. A loss to Conor McGregor prompted a move to lightweight, where he has not looked back, racking up a 7-1 record with a controversial no contest against Eddie Alvarez. Poirier won his last bout, a dominant performance against Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC Norfolk that ended with an injury TKO.
Justin Gaethje was the long-reigning WSOF lightweight champion, defending his belt six times before signing with the UFC last year. He made a big splash by defeating Michael Johnson in an all-out brawl that was wildly regarded as the best fight of 2017. An Ultimate Fighter coaching opportunity opposite Eddie Alvarez came next, culminating in a great back-and-forth bout at UFC 218. The Fight of the Night ended with Gaethje knocked out due to a knee from the clinch, marking the first loss of his 19-fight career.
The fight will reportedly occur at UFC 222 or an event in April. April is a fairly barren month at the moment, with only UFC 223 announced. There is certainly a possibility that Gaethje and Poirier could end up headlining an unannounced Fight Night.
