Salt Lake City, UT — When UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier got the call for a rematch with Justin Gaethje, the butterflies immediately hit.
The call from the UFC first came a few months ago, “about Justin potentially being the opponent,” Poirier recalled during Wednesday’s UFC 291 media day, adding “those butterflies, that anxiety hit me right away, and I was like ‘we’ve got to do this. This is the one.'”
Poirier (29-7, 1NC) first faced Gaethje in 2018, winning one of the most violent fights in lightweight history via fourth-round TKO. Of course, it feels like every fight featuring either Poirier or Gaethje is in the running for “most violent.” But since that first meeting, both men have found ample success, and remain at the top of the 155lb rankings.
“It was five years ago that I beat him. He’s done great things, I’ve done great things. And we were just on a collision course it seemed to do it again,” suggested Poirier. “Number two against number three, number one is fighting the champ. It just makes sense I think in the division as well.”
Fans know what is coming this weekend. Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 has been circled on any number of calendars for months now. There’s little doubt that the families of both fighters are nervous — Louisiana’s Poirier and Arizona’s Gaethje have both admitted as much.
“My wife kind of knew. Whenever I told her, she kind of knew. It’s an unsaid agreement, it’s an unwritten agreement. She knows when I go into that zone, she knows what this is. Especially a fight like this,” said Poirier. “Everyone knows, not even [just] family. People at home who follow this sport know what this is. And I want to go there. I think that’s where I do my best work. And the fact that the fans and Justin— he doesn’t go out of his way to portray that, but he’s kind of got that aura about him as the chaos and most violent, but I really am that. And he knows that. So let’s go there.”
Most-Violent is one title you can consider on the line this Saturday. Baddest MF’er is another, and that one is official. Brought in for the Jorge Masvidal-Nate Diaz fight in 2019 (Masvidal won the bout), with “Gamebred” retired, the UFC is dusting off the honorary title.
“That was thrown on kind of last minute. When we first started talking about the fight, that wasn’t brought up,” admitted Poirier. Still, the belt’s inclusion, “it’s cool,” he added.
“It’s a legacy fight, that’s what my wife told me. She said this is my legacy. Put this BMF belt up on my mantle. When I’m gone from the sport, I can talk back about being the second BMF fight in UFC history. And it’s history, it’s legacy, it’s fun. But even to have your name in the hat to be considered for a fight like this is a special thing.”
Dustin Poirier knows what’s to come on Saturday, much like his family and fans. He also knows that he’s ready for it.
“I trust myself to make a way through the roughness, but it’s going to get rough,” said Poirier. “Adversity will present itself in this fight, but I trust myself to get off the stool, keep myself safe, find the openings, pick my shots. I’ve matured a lot in this sport, and I think you’re going to see it Saturday.”
Watch the full UFC 291 media day appearance by Dustin Poirier above.
