Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier predicts Max Holloway will win the “BMF” title bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, despite being surprised that the fight is happening at all.
Dustin Poirier, the ex-interim UFC lightweight champ, has had his fair share of fights. He’s faced off with Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje twice each. So, he’s got some serious cred when it comes to commenting on the “BMF” title bout at UFC 300.
Holloway and Gaethje? They’re the main event on April 13. Poirier had his sights set on that fight card, but then he signed up for a face-off with Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299.
Poirier never saw a Holloway-Gaethje fight coming. Holloway, the former featherweight king, and Gaethje, the ex-interim lightweight champ? No way.
“I’m shocked,” Poirier admitted on The MMA Hour. “I figured Gaethje would fight Islam [Makhachev]. That’s the fight I had in mind.
“Max and Gaethje, though? That’s gonna be a blast. … It’s gonna be a crowd-pleaser. I’m psyched about it, not just as a fighter, but as a fan. But I really thought Gaethje would get a shot at the title.”
But no, Gaethje’s defending his “BMF” title instead. He earned it by knocking Poirier out with a head kick at UFC 291. But that doesn’t sway Poirier’s opinion on the UFC 300 fight.
“If I were a betting man, and I respect both fighters, I’d put my money on Max,” Poirier said. “He’s a beast. I see folks online saying Max is gonna be too small. But Max is a big guy. He and Gaethje probably weigh about the same. Max isn’t small.”
Holloway stepped up to Poirier’s lightweight division for a shot at the interim belt at UFC 236. Poirier came out on top with a thrilling decision win, setting up a title shot against then-champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was their second fight, after a 2012 featherweight bout ended in Poirier’s favor.
Poirier’s had his fair share of fights with both Holloway and Gaethje. He thinks Holloway has the edge.
“Max’s timing, his range, his durability, it’s a toss-up,” Poirier said. “But if I were betting, I’d bet on Max.”
Did Poirier think Holloway would become one of the best featherweights of all time? He was as surprised as anyone. But he gives Holloway credit for putting in the work to build his legacy.
“I remember watching footage with my coaches,” Poirier said of their first fight. “It was hard to find because he was so early in his career. We thought he was more of a kickboxer. But he’s rounded out his game, put in the work, and he’s one of the best of all time, I think. I had no idea he’d become the champion and legendary fighter he is now.
“And he’s a good guy. There are a lot of shady characters in this sport. Max is one of the good ones.”