The lightweight contenders, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, are now tied 1-1 in their series after their recent clash at UFC 291.
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The lightweight contenders, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, are now tied 1-1 in their series after their recent clash at UFC 291. The event in Salt Lake City, Utah, has gained a reputation for memorable head kick knockouts, with Gaethje adding another to the list by delivering a stunning blow to Poirier on July 29, 2023. This knockout followed the previous head kick knockout by Leon Edwards against Kamaru Usman in August 2022.
In the second round of their bout, Gaethje unleashed a powerful baseball bat-like kick that landed squarely on Poirier’s head, crowning him the new Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF) champion. Securing both the championship title and redemption, Gaethje avenged his previous defeat to Poirier in April 2018.
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Poirier expressed deep disappointment on The MMA Hour, admitting to feeling heartbroken after the defeat. Despite putting in tremendous effort and being in peak condition, he acknowledged that losing is an inevitable part of fighting. He praised Gaethje’s warrior spirit and acknowledged the five-year wait for redemption that Gaethje endured after their previous encounter.
Poirier also mentioned his own experience of having to wait seven to eight years to avenge a loss against Conor McGregor. Despite the setback, Poirier confessed that it’s tough to accept, as he believes he still holds the upper hand in skill.
“I’m just heartbroken,” Poirier said on The MMA Hour. “It sucks. I worked hard, was in incredible shape, and I got beat. But that’s fighting. I said that in the post-fight. It sucks, man. It f—king sucks. Especially because — not taking anything away from Justin, he’s a warrior and [did] an incredible job, having to sit on a loss for five years. I had to do it with Conor [McGregor]. I sat on a loss for seven, eight years, until I had an opportunity to finally get it back. So he sat on that loss for five years, and boy he got it back. But it just sucks because I still feel like I’m better than him.”
He expressed his belief that he is the superior fighter and admitted that he got caught with a remarkable shot, not by mere luck but due to Gaethje’s exceptional technique. Poirier acknowledged that he wasn’t properly guarded and fell victim to Gaethje’s skillful setup.
Despite the loss, he emphasized feeling fully conscious throughout the fight. Poirier admitted that the defeat stings, considering he still believes he is better than his opponent. Nonetheless, he recognized that fighting entails such outcomes, accepting it as part of the sport and reflecting on what he can do moving forward.
“I feel like I’m the better fighter,” he added. “I got hit with a great shot — not by luck or chance, he set it up beautifully and I was just a victim to great technique. I was in the wrong place and I didn’t guard myself properly. But I felt very aware the whole fight. I feel like I’m better than him and I lost. That hurts. But that’s fighting and it is what it is. What can I do?”
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