Justin Gaethje has fully accepted his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 and how things have changed since then.
While this matchup was highly anticipated, many fans and experts wonder why Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) would accept a BMF title fight against Holloway on a historic card in Las Vegas this month. I wondered why he was in such a strong position. UFC lightweight title fight vs. Islam Makhachev.
Makhachev and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie after the Gaethje vs. Holloway bout was booked that the fight was meaningless. It was a worst-case scenario for Gaethje. Gaethje was devastated when Holloway sent him to the floor with one second left in the match, resulting in the worst KO loss of all time.
As a result, Dustin Poirier, who Gaethje just knocked out at UFC 291 in July, will challenge for Makhachev’s belt on June 1st at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, and Gaethje now… He has been further away from title fights than he has been in recent years. .
“A lot of people in my position would have decided not to take (the Holloway fight),” Gaethje told MMA Knockout’s Matthew Riddle. “I have no regrets. It was a lot of fun. I think this was a huge, historic card for the UFC, and being a part of it and having the best fight on that card will live on forever.
“It was a big risk. I failed, and if I had won that fight, if I had been knocked out right away, I would have taken that fight (vs. Makhachev). But that’s the name of the game. It’s just that.”
Gaethje said he doesn’t intend to “eat up” what-ifs and plans to move forward with his life and career. He plans to prioritize his health and family time before deciding on the next step in his career.
Despite the crushing loss, Gaethje remains No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings. Now 35 years old and the damage accumulating, the next chapter is probably as important as the others. And he hasn’t forgotten the reality.
“It’s certainly one of the definitions of war, especially being put to sleep like that,” Gaethje said. “But it’s not over yet. I’m still going to fight in the future, and that’s the only way I’m going to fight.
“As much as I wanted to change the way I compete, it’s not realistically possible. That’s how I compete. That’s how I’ve competed since I was a kid. And the next time I step out there, The Best Live Show on Earth awaits. I’ll see if I have a dance partner as good as (Holloway), but my intentions are the same.”
For more information on this card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 300 event hub.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and other content with mixed martial arts fans.
