Despite being knocked out by Justin Gaethje in their recent fight at UFC 291, Dustin Poirier maintains his belief that he is the better fighter, expressing a desire for a trilogy bout with Gaethje and commending Gaethje’s potential to claim the lightweight title in future contests.
Dustin Poirier maintains that he is a superior fighter to Justin Gaethje, despite a recent setback. The two fighters clashed on Saturday during UFC 291’s main event in Salt Lake City. However, Gaethje emerged triumphant, defeating Poirier with a second-round head kick. This loss was particularly difficult for Poirier, marking his first knockout loss since facing Michael Johnson in 2016. Bitterly disappointed after the match, Poirier admitted he was finding it tough to accept the outcome, considering the amount of effort he had put into preparation.
Despondent after the fight, Poirier stated, “I worked hard, was in incredible shape, and I got beat. But that’s fighting.” Poirier recognises Gaethje’s skill and lauds his victory but confesses it is disappointing as he still considers himself to be a superior fighter. He also added that while it was a well-executed move from Gaethje that led to his defeat, he was very aware and remained alert throughout the fight. He felt that despite losing, in broader terms, he was better than Gaethje.
The first meeting between Poirier and Gaethje took place back in 2018 and was a thrilling contest that saw Poirier emerge victorious in the fourth round. Despite this, Poirier insists that his assertion of being a better fighter is not based on that win but rather on his assessment of the recent fight. A few days after the fight, reminiscing his preparation and how well he performed before the knockout, he couldn’t shake the belief that he is a superior fighter. Poirier thinks he still has a lot of fight left in him and would prefer to get a trilogy bout with Gaethje, but fully comprehends why it might not happen.
Gaethje is next in line for the lightweight title, set to face the winner of the match between current champion Islam Makhachev and former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 294. Despite his belief of being a better fighter, Poirier acknowledges that Gaethje might have a legitimate chance to win the belt. “He punches hard. I felt it through my guard,” Poirier said, recognizing his powerful body shots and dense punches. According to Poirier, if Gaethje can withstand Islam’s takedown attempts and continue his hard-hitting style, he could pose a significant threat to him.