Gaethje Seeks Title Bout With Makhachev – ‘I’ve Earned My Spot’

Justin Gaethje is down to fight Islam Makhachev following the latter’s win over Alex Volkanovski.

In a rematch of their first fight at UFC 294, Makhachev stopped the Australian with a kick to the head which was followed up by ground and pound strikes in the first round. Thereafter, the referee called off the fight in a performance that put to bed any controversy over the result in the first fight. In the aftermath, the talk turned towards Makhachev’s next possible opponent.

The lightweight called for a title eliminator between Gaethje and Charles Oliveira prior to his fight. Following his win, however, Makhachev ruled out a fight with Oliveira having already beaten the fighter previously, despite being on course to face him before his withdrawal with injury. And with Gaethje still in contention, the BMF title holder was ready to have a crack at getting the lightweight title.

Justin Gaethje calls for a UFC title shot against Islam Makhachev 🔥 #UFC294 https://t.co/sr13Ul40aG

— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) October 22, 2023

“I’m No. 2, I knocked out Poirier. I mean, Charles Oliveira is ahead of me, but he already lost to Makhachev. I have not fought Makhachev. It’s a fresh matchup, a new matchup, and I think that’s what the fans are looking for. I think [Makhachev] would have beaten Oliveira just the same [as Volkanovski].

“Oliveira beat me, MMA math doesn’t work. I’ve said he’s not Khabib [Nurmagomedov], but he might be, so I just want to go out there and figure it out. I’ve been here for a long time. I’ve been doing this s*** for a long time, but I’ve earned my spot. I knocked out Dustin Poirier. Is Islam Makhachev beatable? I don’t know, but I’m going to give everything as I always have,” Gaethje said

Social Media Response

Always down for a Gaethje fight

— Slam_55 (@Slam_fiftyfive) October 22, 2023

No fight Charles for the title shot 😂

— Marvin L Davis Jr (@MarvinLDavisJr) October 22, 2023

Not even worth it. He’ll get choked out like usual

— Me (@Fredd_Adams) October 22, 2023