Justin Gaethje Shuts Door on Trilogy Fight Against Dustin Poirier

Dustin
Poirier is seemingly not coming out of retirement just
yet. 

Poirier and Gaethje share a 1-1 head-to-head record in the
UFC. While Poirier retired last year, Gaethje recently won the
interim lightweight title against Paddy
Pimblett at UFC 324
last month. Gaethje’s violent performance against Pimblett was
enticing enough for Poirier to consider coming out of retirement.
“The Diamond” said that he would be interested in returning for a
trilogy matchup against Gaethje. 

Gaethje initially said he respects Poirier too much to deny him a
rubber matchup. However, Gaethje had mentioned that he was
primarily looking ahead and not behind. 

Meanwhile, lightweight champion Ilia
Topuria, who was on a short hiatus, said that he is ready to
return this summer. Gaethje has now completely shut down the idea
of a trilogy fight against Poirier. “The Highlight” is not lured by
the idea of a trilogy against Poirier when he is likely to fight
Topuria in a title unifier. However, Gaethje would give it thought
if he was offered a matchup against Conor
McGregor at the White House in June.

Focused on UFC Gold

“No, no. We’re 1-1. I’m fighting for the championship next,’
Gaethje told Stephen A. Smith. “I mean, that is the biggest fight
in the world. For me, for this division, it’s the biggest fight
that any of us can ever have. I’m fighting for an undisputed gold
championship belt. So there’s nothing else that entertains me. If
they came to me and said, ‘Do you want to fight McGregor at the
White House instead?’ I would think about it.”

Gaethje (27-5) was fairly new to the UFC when he suffered a
stoppage loss against Poirier (30-10)  in their first matchup
in 2018. Gaethje avenged the loss by sending Poirier to the shadow
realm with a head kick in their rematch in 2023. Poirier went 1-2
after his loss against Gaethje and called it career following a
loss to Max
Holloway last July.