Justin Gaethje Needs Poirier Subsequent, Believes He Can KO Islam Makhachev

Justin Gaethje‘s gearing up for a title run, and the UFC star tells us he has the facility to dethrone champ Islam Makhachev … however he is aware of he has to earn the struggle, and he is able to run by means of Dustin Poirier to show his worthiness!

34-year-old Gaethje, the #3 ranked UFC light-weight, joined Babcock on the “TMZ Sports activities” TV present (airs weekdays on FS1) … the place we talked about every little thing from who he desires subsequent, to how he’d fare in opposition to the present champ, to how for much longer he sees himself combating, and Conor McGregor just lately calling him “handicap” on Twitter.

On who Gaethje, who’s coming off a dominating win over fellow contender Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 in March, desires subsequent:

“I feel that is the apparent selection, Dustin. He is sitting at quantity 2 proper now, I gave the brand new guys an opportunity and I proved that I’m elite, and I have to struggle elite fighters to struggle for a belt. I feel Dustin’s the apparent selection. I feel the loser of Dariush and Oliveira can also be an possibility, however exterior of these two, I don’t see an possibility.”

FYI, Justin and Dustin fought again in 2018 … a basic struggle that Poirier received by fourth-round TKO.

In fact, Islam, who was simply in battle with 145 lb. king Alex Volkanovski (Makhachev received by the thinnest margin), is the light-weight champ. We requested Justin how a struggle between the boys would look.

“I feel [Islam is] a tough struggle for anyone. Simply create harm. I would should struggle the right struggle,” Gaethje advised us, including he acknowledges he would not be on the Dagestani fighter’s degree relating to “submission grappling,” however Justin believes along with his energy, he can shut anybody’s lights out.

“I feel I can knock him out. I feel I can knock anyone out with the facility that I possess.”

We requested Gaethje, who misplaced by submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 at UFC 254, to check The Eagle and Makhachev.

“I feel they’re very related. I feel the largest distinction is Islam has been completed. He is misplaced a struggle. He is been completed. In order that aura of invincibility is there, however it’s not based mostly on 100% info like Khabib has, I feel that is the largest issue, the largest distinction.”

We additionally talked to Gaethje about retirement.

“I’ve by no means considered retirement. I have not considered my life after retirement. I am nonetheless working for the objective that I’ve set for myself,” Justin mentioned, explaining he has religion that his household and mates would inform him when it is time to hold up the gloves. However, that is doubtless years away, in line with JG, who believes he is simply hitting his stride as a fighter.

“34, I feel we’re at our peak, mentally, bodily. Between 34 and 36, so I can not see myself being executed within the subsequent two years. I would say two to 4 years is def a timeline that is sensible. I am not attempting to struggle once I’m 40, and after 36, I do not see myself getting higher.”

Lastly, Conor just lately tweeted “Justin Gaethje is a handicap,” earlier than deleting the message shortly after. We requested JG for his response.

“One in every of my greatest approaches in life is to make all people assume you are silly after which go right into a dialog or state of affairs the place you’ll be able to make the most of all people feeling like that. It performs completely into my fingers. I like when folks assume I am handicapped or dumb — that is not a man, I do not imagine I am going to ever struggle him.”

Gaethje vs. McGregor is a struggle followers clamored over for years … however Justin says the man merely would not need to step foot in The Octagon with him.