Dustin Poirier reacts to Justin Gaethje's four-man hit-list to get back on track in the lightweight division
Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje both seem keen for another throwdown in mixed martial arts competition after a pair of iconic fights. Gaethje was recently speaking with MMA Junkie and laid down a list of opponents that he had in mind for a return to the cage.
The exciting combatant has not been seen in the octagon since April when he lost his BMF title to Max Holloway in an electrifying buzzer-beater knockout at UFC 300.
When addressing to on-site media his desire for what he wants his next octagon outing to be, Gaethje said:
"I have a list: [Dan] Hooker, [Charles] Oliviera, [Dustin] Poirier, and [Alexander] Volkanovski is a list of four people that I think do for me what I need to get back in [the title mix]."
One of those referenced fighters would respond on X when retweeting the interview excerpt in question. Within this retweet, Poirier stated:
"You know I'm down"
Check out the X interaction between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje below
Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje's competitive history
Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje would be engaging in a rubber match if this desired fight ever gets made official by the promotion. The first time that the pair of former UFC interim lightweight champions ever did battle to was in April 2018. This was the UFC on Fox 29 headliner and the riveting main event would earn fight of the night distinctions when all was said and done.
In the end, Poirier would win the first contest as he finished Gaethje with punches thirty three seconds into the fourth round of their classic matchup. The sequel affair between the two would take place over half a decade after their initial meeting.
Poirier vs Gaethje II took place in July 2023 and served as the headliner once again but this time on pay-per-view. The UFC 291 fight was for the then-vacant BMF title after Jorge Masvidal left the UFC which vacated the belt. Justin Gaethje would tie up the series with a head kick knockout of Dustin Poirier at the one minute mark of the second stanza.
A tiebreaking trilogy affair would certainly entice many within the MMA community but it remains to be seen if the UFC matchmakers officially lock this one in as the next outing for the pair of fighters.