BMF Champ Justin Gaethje Talks UFC 300 Motivations, Islam Makhachev's Next Fight

Gaethje explains why he couldn’t stay on the sidelines for UFC 300.

Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a line of lightweights gunning for a title shot and Justin Gaethje is one of them.

The BMF Champion continues to make his case for another chance at gold after failing against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020. Now, Gaethje rides back-to-back wins over Rafael Fiziev and a head kick KO of Dustin Poirier and is on the brink of a fight with Islam Makhachev.

RELATED: UFC 300: Justin Gaethje Sees ‘BMF’ History Repeating Itself in Max Holloway Fight

With that said, why would Gaethje take a fight with former featherweight champ Max Holloway at UFC 300? 

As it turns out, ‘The Highlight’ knows nothing is guaranteed in this sport and it can move on without you --- especially when there’s top contenders fighting each other for everything you desire.

“Well, they announced the [Charles] Olivera and [Arman] Tsarukyan fight and they called it a title eliminator. So, there's only one way to make sure that doesn't happen and that's to get on the card and stand out,” Gaethje told Sportsnet on why he’s fighting Max Holloway. 

“All four of us have the opportunity to be the clear contender and I think two contenders will be coming out that night. Me, one of them, and whoever wins between Tsarukyan and Oliveira, who fights [Makhachev] next. I think he's gonna fight twice this year. So hopefully both of us, both winners fighting this year.” 

The champ Makhachev is holding out for a potential return in June, which won’t work for the high-octane Gaethje, who’d rather fight at a later date. If the winner of Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan isn’t down for the quick turnaround, the door is left open for another top contender altogether in Dustin Poirier. 

“I mean, he has to fight somebody,” Gaethje told Shakiel Mahjouri, regarding Makhachev potentially fighting Poirier next. “It is hard for him to believe that Tsarukyan and Olivera, me or Holloway would be ready or want to fight in June. I'm not sure why June is his date, especially with this fight happening now. It could be July, August, but I think it's all what ifs even in his mind, what ifs, and you can't have a fight if you don't have an opponent. 

“So, I think if I'm Makhachev, I wanna take that fight because I think that I win that fight and I get paid the same and it's a title defense. So, yeah, I think there's nothing wrong with him doing that. But, he's gonna have to fight the winner of Tsarukyan and Oliveira in June, July, and the winner of that fight's gonna have to fight me in November.”

Watch how the unofficial lightweight tournament plays out at UFC 300 with Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway right after.

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