“Why the sad faces” – Justin Gaethje said to reporters in the UFC Glendale mixed zone after his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier on Saturday night.
Gaethje’s loss to Poirer was named fight of the night, the second consecutive card the 29-year-old has received the honour, and the Arizona native speaks with a level of confidence that makes you believe that he almost expects to be in ‘fight of the night’ calibre bouts.
“I didn’t get in this sport to win or lose,” said Gaethje.
“It’s the entertainment factor for me and I will be known and remembered as one of the most entertaining fighters that ever did it.
“I’m content with what happened, as stupid and crazy as that sounds. I felt so comfortable in there and so good, the best I’ve ever felt.
“It was just what I thought it would be; a fight. A fist fight. That’s what I’ve been preparing for for 12 weeks. This is an unforgiving sport and I don’t recommend it to my enemy but it was what I was born and bred to do.”
Meanwhile UFC President Dana White said that Poirier is now among the contenders to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Lightweight title.
“Absolutely,” UFC president Dana White said when asked if Poirier would be considered to face Nurmagomedov next. “He’s definitely in there.
“He’s one of the guys we were thinking about calling last week to take the fight [against Khabib] but I didn’t want to screw up this event and thank god I didn’t.
“Obviously, tonight was a big night for him. Gaethje is very well respected in that division. Tough guy. Poirier ate, much like the Eddie Alvarez fight, tons of kicks. Could barely walk and pulled off the win.”
