“I don’t plan on being alive after my fights…” Justin Gaethje gives SAV*GE response for post-UFC 300 plans

Justin Gaethje reveals surprising thought process before an MMA fight.

“I don’t plan on being alive after my fights…” Justin Gaethje gives SAV*GE response for post-UFC 300 plans

Justin Gaethje (Image via: IMAGO)

Justin “The Highight” Gaethje has one of the most fitting nicknames for any fighter. Gaethje’s 11 fights in the promotion will show anybody why he is the human highlight reel. Gaethje has never fought an unranked lightweight fighter in his UFC career.

However, Gaethje will fight an unranked lightweight in the upcoming fight at UFC 300. That does not mean that the opponent is no slouch, as it is the former featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway. Preluding the fight, Gaethje gave a sav*ge response on the media day about his fight at UFC 300.

I usually don’t plan on being alive the day after my fights, so hopefully, I’m there on Sunday.
Justin Gaethje at the UFC 300 Media Day
YouTube video

After fighting Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Gaethje believed he and Chandler were born in the wrong era. Gaethje felt that he should’ve been born at the time of Gladiators. Max Holloway also shares a similar belief. It is the reason why ‘Blessed’ accepted a fight against Gaethje by stating that Gladiators don’t care about weight class

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Gaethje has had exciting matchups with Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira, against whom he is 1-2 with victory in the rematch with Poirer. On the other hand, Holloway is also 1-2 against Poirier and Oliveira, with a victory against the latter. After UFC 300, all four of Poirier, Oliveira, Gaethje, and Holloway would’ve fought each other. Unlike the other three fighters, Gaethje has never fought below 155lbs.

Justin Gaethje on the viral celebration after Dustin Poirier’s win

Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier are similar but opposite fighters. Both have become interim lightweight champions but failed twice to become the undisputed champion. Interestingly, they both lost to Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov in undisputed title fights. Moreover, they have also stopped the hype of young and upcoming fighters, Rafael Fiziev and Benoit Saint-Denis, respectively.

Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier
Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier ( Image via MMA Junkie)

Gaethje and Poirier are 1-1 against each other, with the former emerging victorious at the recent meeting via head-kick KO. Their first fight, which Poirier won via 4th round TKO, was very violent. Nonetheless, the two share deep respect for each other. The most recent proof was when Gaethje celebrated joyfully when Poirier knocked out Saint-Denis at UFC 299. 

I'm always going to cheer for my fellow Americans, you know, and especially, um, I love to see these vets and us old guys holding off these young Lions. They're coming for us, but the longer we can hold them off, the better for me, the better for all of us.
Justin Gaethje at the UFC 300 Media Day
YouTube video

Gaethje stated his win over Poirer as one of the best in his career. In addition to the fight with Poirier, he also stated that his victories over Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson were equally important. According to Gaethje, all the aforementioned three are future UFC Hall of Famers.

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