UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje calls for late 2023 rematch with Dustin Poirier

Former UFC title challenger Justin Gaethje wants another fight with Dustin Poirier in the second half of 2023. 

With a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 on March 18, Gaethje (24-4) is looking to put himself back into title contention and appears to already be planning his return to the octagon, with former opponent Poirier on his mind. 

“August, September, October sounds ideal to fight [Dustin] Poirier,” Gaethje told Aaron Bronsteter of TSN. “[Fighting in June] is doable but I would need to know that immediately but I don’t think I’m going to get word on that anytime soon so I think after that is ideal."

Five years ago, Gaethje suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Poirier in Glendale, Arizona. A four-fight winning streak followed and he eventually went on to capture the interim lightweight title in May 2020. The two fighters have lost only twice since their 2018 meeting, both to former champions in Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov, respectively.

Gaethje, the No. 3-ranked lightweight, is 0-2 in undisputed title fights but he could conceivably earn a third shot at UFC gold if he can secure a couple more wins. 

Poirier, a 34-year-old, former interim lightweight champion, recently indicated that he would welcome a rematch with Gaethje. The 155-pounder last fought this past November, when he submitted Michael Chandler at UFC 281.

His resume includes wins over Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis, to name a select few. Gaethje has earned 11 total bonuses in his UFC career, including seven Fight of the Night honors and four Performance of the Night honors.

A win over a lightweight staple like Poirier (29-7) would put Gaethje right in line for a shot at the 155-pound title, which is currently held by Islam Makhachev.