“Somebody’s got to fight the loser” – Justin Gaethje eyeing a return in 2023 against the loser of Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev
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Justin Gaethje (L); Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev (R)
Justin Gaethje has had a tumultuous couple of years in the UFC.
Despite having one-punch knockout power, Justin Gaethje has not yet delivered on the title ambitions that he would have wanted to materialize by now. And that power was on full display against Michael Chandler last year – had it been anyone else, the night would’ve been over by the beginning of Round 3,
Gaethje came to the UFC in 2017, after remaining unbeaten in PFL, formerly WSOF. Five years later, he is 6-4 in the promotion. His latest loss came against Charles Oliveira, where he was submitted by the Brazilian within one round; thereby losing a second title shot.
After his fight against Oliveira, Justin Gaethje had surgery done on his nose, and as such, has ruled out fighting again in 2022. However, he has a plan in mind going into 2023. He said, “They got a fight for the title [at UFC 280], so somebody’s got to fight the loser. Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier are going to fight, somebody’s got to fight the winner. I’ll be ready next year, ideally January, February, or March, whatever they want to do.”
In this statement, Gaethje is targeting a whole slew of fighters. Who he fights, according to him, will only be determined after November. Ruling out another title shot just yet, he could take on the loser of the title bout between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, or the winner of Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler at UFC 281.
Justin Gaethje wants to fight on Edwards-Usman undercard
It is possible that Justin Gaethje’s next fight will be a rematch. If Islam Makhachev defeats Charles Oliveira for the belt, then the American could fight Oliveira again, in under a year.
If that fight doesn’t materialize, he could take on the winner of Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler. He has fought both fighters, but he would possibly fancy fighting Poirier again to exact revenge on his 2018 loss.
While who he fights is up in the air, Gaethje has had his say on where he would like to fight. A trilogy is inevitable between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman, after the latter lost his title in stunning fashion to a headkick KO from Edwards. The location being favoured for it is London, next year.
Expressing his desire to fight in London, he said, “I’ll be ready next year, ideally January, February, or March, whatever they want to do. I’m not sure when Kamaru [Usman] is going to London [for the Leon Edwards rematch], but I wouldn’t mind fighting in London.”
However, there is one more fantasy fight that is dominating the rumour mills. It looks like Justin Gaethje could face Conor McGregor as well, when he does return. If that were the fight to be made, no fight fan would have any complaint against it!
Also Read- WATCH: When Conor McGregor caused HAVOC inside Bellator octagon
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Udayan Mukherjee
(382 Articles Published)