Former UFC title challenger pushes for Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje as TUF 31 coaches
Amidst the confusion in the lightweight division, former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves has endorsed a potential Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje TUF season where the two 155ers will serve as the coach of each team.
'Pitbull' may not be a notable name to the newer fans, but he holds the record for having the second-most fights (26) in the UFC welterweight division and last fought in the company back in 2019. Despite losing, the Brazilian had one shot at gold in a fight he unfortunately lost via unanimous decision to Georges St-Pierre.
Letting his thoughts be known on social media, Thiago Alves proposed a fantastic TUF idea between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, who would then likely go on to have their rematch once the season comes to an end.
Alves wrote in a tweet:
"Hey UFC, what about Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje as coaches for the next TUF season? It would be a [great] season!"
season! Hey @ufc, what about @DustinPoirier vs. @Justin_Gaethje as coaches for the next TUF season?
It would be a 🔥 season!
RT if you are with me.
The Ultimate Fighter has been a staple in the world of mixed martial arts and has been a stomping ground for many elite-level competitors in the sport. A number of TUF competitors did go on to become UFC champions, and fighters like TJ Dillashaw—who didn't win the tournament—have even held gold in the promotion.
Gaethje and Poirier put on a fight-of-the-year war the last time they stood across the octagon from one another back in 2018. In a razor-close affair, it was 'The Diamond' who came out on top and finished the always entertaining lightweight four rounds into their brawl.
Following the bout, 'The Highlight' changed how he approaches fights and has since never lost inside the cage outside of title bouts against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Does Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 make sense?
Currently ranked as the #2 and #3 lightweights of the world, Poirier and Gaethje are firmly in title contention and are both available for an upcoming fight schedule.
With Islam Makhachev tied up in a title fight and Charles Oliveira looking to take some time away from the octagon, the only fighters able to compete in the division are ranked lower than the two 155lb mainstays.
Beneil Dariush and Rafael Fiziev have been mentioned alongside Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, but a TUF season run by the pair followed by a fight with title implications on the line could be a great move for all involved.