The Justin Gaethje next fight news has arrived, and the lightweight star will make his return to the Octagon in July for the main event of UFC 291. And his opponent will be a former foe who handed him one of the two knockout losses of his career, Dustin Poirier.
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Who will Justin Gaethje next fight be against?
On July 19, “The Highlight” will be back in action to compete in one of the most anticipated rematches in lightweight history. In the main event of UFC 291, Gaethje will battle fellow former interim champion Dustin Poirier looking to avenge his TKO loss to “Diamond” from 2018.
Furthermore, not only will title contention be on the line in July, but so will the promotion’s fictional BMF belt.
How to watch Gaethje vs. Poirier 2 on July 29
- Gaethje vs. Poirier 2 will serve as the main event of UFC 291 on July 29
- The card will take place inside the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah
- The fight will air exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view for a price of $79.99
Justin Gaethje vs Dustin Poirier II preview
Justin Gaethje versus Dustin Poirier is one of the best and most violent fights in UFC lightweight history. It is a runback that fans have clamored for ever since. Now, they will get that with both being better fighters and the popular BMF title also on the line.
Bigger and Better: For many fighters, the duo’s legendary first fight would have been a peak moment for their careers. However, both Gaethje and Poirier have become improved and more popular fighters since that bout. Each has gone on to become an interim champion and has fought division GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov.
A rematch would have been a big deal in 2019, but in 2023 it is worthy of the main event spot on a PPV card.
Evolution: What is most fascinating is Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier are both far better fighters than they were five years ago. The big question is if Gaethje has evolved to a level where he can get the W in this rematch, or is Poirier just one of the few fighters that have his number?
The bottom line: This matchup is a huge win for fans and the promotion. It is a scrap that fight fans have wanted to see for years and it very well could set up another title challenger for reigning division king Islam Makhachev.
What makes Justin Gaethje so popular?
The Violence King: There truly are very few fighters like Gaethje in UFC history. There have been many tough fighters, or brawlers with heavy hands, but few have been able to defeat elite talent as well. The 33-year-old is a rarity for being a crushing machine with an unbreakable will, but also has the skill and fight IQ to compete with the best lightweights of his era.
- Justin Gaethje Record: 24-4 (19 knockouts, 1 submission)
- The lightweight division has had some talented knockout artists, but not many have been as efficient as Gaethje in dealing out KOs. In his 23 wins, 83% have come by KO.
- Gaethje has a better knockout rate than heavyweight bombers Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou. The two men many believe are the most devastating punchers in MMA history.
- The Arizona native was a sensation from the start of his promotional run in 2017 and has main event UFC cards in seven of his nine fights.
- Gaethje had a good bit of hype entering the promotion after having a memorable run as the World Series of Fighting lightweight champion before they were rebranded as the PFL.
- Gaethje has faced two former UFC and Bellator 155-pound champions during his time in the UFC
- Several of his fights, including against Chandler, Poirier, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael Johnson, either won or were nominated for “Fight of the Year” during the 12-month period when they occurred.
Justin Gaethje’s net worth
Money is often one of the greatest measuring sticks for a fighter’s success. As of 2022, Gaethje’s net worth is estimated to be over $2 million.