Highlights
- Gaethje showed heart and grit at UFC 300 despite losing, making him the perfect opponent for Masvidal next.
- Masvidal and Gaethje have exchanged heated words, building up a potential epic showdown between the two fighters.
- Fans can expect a fiery clash between the two fighters if Gaethje moves up to welterweight or Masvidal goes back down to lightweight.
Following the end of UFC 300, many fighters wrote their names into the annals of history. Alex Pereira beat Jamahal Hill to retain the light heavyweight title, while Max Holloway beat Justin Gaethje with one of the biggest last-second stoppages ever.
Max Holloway Mocks Ilia Topuria After BMF Callout Following UFC 300 Victory
Max Holloway questioned Ilia Topuria’s BMF credentials after his latest comment.
Interestingly, Gaethje didn’t lose stock in this lightweight brawl. He showed tenacity, grit, heart and soul. Not to mention, as always, Gaethje displayed a granite chin. As his team, coached by Trevor Wittman, ponders their next move, they have the perfect opponent. The UFC should capitalize on this momentum and book Gaethje versus Jorge Masvidal due to how both men have trashed each other recently.
Justin Gaethje Has History With Jorge Masvidal
Gaethje Took An ATT Prize And Broke Masvidal’s Heart
- Dustin Poirier beat Justin Gaethje on UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje in 2018.
- Poirier won via a Round 4 TKO.
- Gaethje avenged that loss by seizing the BMF belt at UFC 291.
Now, this rivalry tracks back to when Gaethje first won the BMF title by beating Dustin Poirier. He finished Poirier with a head kick in 2023, copping the belt. As Masvidal was the previous owner, he wrapped the belt around Gaethje’s waist. However, it all seemed respectful.
Masvidal did say in previous interviews that he would have preferred the “Diamond” won. That’s because he trains with Poirier at American Top Team (ATT) in Florida. More so, Masvidal and Louisiana’s “El Diamante” are very close friends. Thus, it’s only natural that he would want the BMF strap kept in the family.
That said, Masvidal has said since that it was heartbreaking seeing Poirier lose. He did look disenchanted giving Gaethje the belt, but such is business. Masvidal wanted to hand the belt out, but he couldn’t predict Gaethje would gain revenge for the first loss against Poirier.
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Max Holloway celebrated his UFC 300 victory with his wife, Alessa Quizon.
Justin Gaethje Has Grown To Hate Jorge Masvidal
The “Highlight” Thinks “Gambred” Is A Coward
- Jorge Masvidal debuted in MMA in 2003.
- Masvidal has a current MMA record of 35-17.
- Masvidal has the fastest knockout in UFC history when he slept Ben Askren in five seconds in 2019.
- The Masvidal knee on Askren won Performance of the Night and Performance of the Year.
However, Gaethje recently lashed out at Masvidal. It stems from comments Masvidal made before Gaethje fought Holloway. Masvidal said he’d break Gaethje’s orbital bone had they gone up against each other for the BMF title. Gaethje, in the build-up to UFC 300, took umbrage and threw shade at Masvidal.
Gaethje called Masvidal a “loser” in a chat with MMA Junkie. He then continued the sparring in a Daniel Cormier interview. From Masvidal attacking Colby Covington in the streets to how Gaethje’s teammate, Kamaru Usman, beat Masvidal twice, including a vicious knockout the second time around, Gaethje pulled no verbal punches.
It got personal very fast. Gaethje called Masvidal “fat” and “irrelevant,” while joking about how he took the money Masvidal bet on Poirier. Gaethje was clearly alluding to Masvidal being a wash-out who had to leave the UFC with his head held low after losing to Covington and Gilbert Burns in 2023. That four-fight skid saw Masvidal retire, start his own bareknuckle MMA promotion and then look to box.
Max Holloway Wins The BMF Title With Crazy Last Second Knockout Against Justin Gaethje At UFC 300
Max Holloway captures the BMF title in spectacular fashion.
Jorge Masvidal Wants A Big UFC Comeback
Masvidal Doesn’t Mind Getting Revenge On Gaethje
- Masvidal has UFC wins over Nate Diaz, Darren Till and Donald Cerrone.
- Gaethje debuted in MMA in 2011.
- Gaethje has a current MMA record of 25-5.
- Gaethje has electric wins over Tony Ferguson, Rafael Fiziev, Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson and Michael Chandler.
Admittedly, Masvidal didn’t know about Gaethje’s responses. He found out on The MMA Hour after UFC 300 and had choice words in retaliation. He called Gaethje an “easy” fight for a comeback. Masvidal promised to “light” Gaethje up after ridiculing his movement, boxing and such. It’s ironic, as Gaethje poked fun at Masvidal and Nate Diaz boxing.
Nonetheless, if Masvidal can go back down to 155 pounds at lightweight or if Gaethje can come up to 170 pounds at welterweight, the UFC has a big fight to make. Fans love both fighters, the mic work at press conferences would be incendiary, and audiences would lap up a showdown with two guys who prefer fists to wrestling.
Masvidal has always said he wants to return to MMA in style. The UFC has a good relationship with him, sanctioning this boxing as he is still under contract after retiring. This opens the path for both men to stop ranting and lambasting each other and to jump into a slobberknocker.
It might not be for the BMF belt, but the BMF spirit lives on in both of these MMA fighters. This can get as bloody as any brawl involving the likes of Holloway and Poirier. And ultimately, UFC CEO and President, Dana White, would get another big-name fight that is sure to draw a ton of viewers and make the company major money.
