Justin Gaethje doesn’t think Islam Makhachev has done enough to be considered in the UFC lightweight title race.
For Gaethje (23-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), it’s title shot or bust after he defeated Michael Chandler in a “Fight of the Year” contender at UFC 268. Gaethje now awaits the winner of champion Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier next month at UFC 269.
Former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defended his title against Gaethje before retiring in October 2020, has been vouching for his teammate Islam Makhachev (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), who is unbeaten in his past nine fights. He dismissed Gaethje as the next title challenger, but the former interim lightweight champ isn’t sold on Makhachev’s resume despite his recent dominant finish of Dan Hooker.
Sitting at No. 3 is the often overlooked Beneil Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC), who Gaethje thinks Makhachev should fight first before getting a title shot.
“Makhachev fought No. 14, went to No. 5 and fought a late replacement in Dan Hooker,” Gaethje said on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast. “It wasn’t Dan Hooker on a full camp. It does not count as much, but still, it’s two top 15 guys, none in the top five, only one in the top 10. That’s not how this sh*t works.
“Do your f*cking job, fight these guys, and Beneil Dariush is right here. And I like the dude, he’s my friend so you know I’m just going to jump over this man and expect to get a title shot when the No. 3 guy is Beneil Dariush. Handle that. That has to be handled.”
Gaethje sees Poirier beating Oliveira and is excited for the opportunity to avenge his loss to him. Gaethje was stopped in the fourth round in an all-out war with Poirier in 2018, but despite losing, Gaethje was able to inflict quite a bit of damage to Poirier’s leg.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 16, 2018
“I’m looking forward to the rematch,” Gaethje said. “I’m looking forward to him knowing what he went through last time. Having to embrace that, having to be content with that happening again and with this last fight, I’ve understood how much my skills should be a factor, so yeah, it’s a much different fight all the way around.”
Justin Gaethje to Islam Makhachev: ‘Do your f*cking job’ and fight top five Beneil Dariush
