UFC lightweight contender, Justin Gaethje finished Dustin Poirier with an absolutely devastating head kick in the second round of their fight at UFC 291 to claim the BMF title. Gaethje’s win against Poirier led many to believe that he would be next in line to challenge for the lightweight championship. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case going into UFC 300 due to the announcement made by Dana White and the UFC.

The 35-year-old is set to defend his bantamweight title against Max Holloway at UFC 300. While Charles Oliveira will take on Arman Tsarukyan for the number one contender fight at the same event. Given that Gaethje was supposed to fight for the UFC lightweight title around February, what actually went wrong?

Justin Gaethje talks about losing his potential title match

In a recent interview with Brett Okamoto, The BMF champ talked about losing his potential match due to injuries suffered by both Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. Gaethje in the interview said, “I would have fought him. I would have fought him in February. I was told not by I mean by specific people, but, you know, nonchalantly, and it was just a verbal thing, but, that I was gonna fight the winner of that fight in February. And then he got hurt.”

However, despite the circumstances, Gaethje revealed that he isn’t letting the setbacks get to him. He claimed that he is focused on the challenge ahead of him, as he said, “But it’s one at a time and it’s the next one. Your next one is the most important. Your last one is all that matters. That’s all people remember you by.”

“So luckily I had a good knockout last time. I got a good, good nice taste in these in the fans’ mouth and they want to see me again. And, you know, I watch. I read. I read online and you know, I know that people want a fresh face to fight Makhachev,” said the BMF title holder.

The UFC isn’t really known for following the rankings when it comes to title fights. However, the UFC is known to give the fans the matchups they wish to see. And Justin Gaethje wishes to make a statement in his next fight against Holloway to secure a title shot.

‘The Highlight’ reveals plans to aim for a title shot

Gaethje seems to know very well that he’s just a highlight finish away from the title fight. In the same interview with Brett Okamoto, The UFC BMF champion revealed his plans to snatch the title shot from Oliveira and Tsarukyan.

In the interview, ‘The Highlight’ said, “We’ve been here so many times where they say one thing and then someone gets a cut in their eye. A fight goes a specific way. It’s a draw. It’s no contest. There’s so many factors that can happen. And so yeah, again, I thought that me and Poirier were in… I’m pretty sure that he said… actually I can’t say.”

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Do you believe that a finish against Holloway would secure a title shot against Makhachev? Or do you believe that the winner of Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan would get the title shot, regardless? Let us know in the comments section below.

Also Read: Justin Gaethje Expects Dana White to Change 155 lbs Title Shot Scenario After UFC 300 as Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan Get Cited to Lose Islam Makhachev Fight