Justin Gaethje’s win over Paddy Pimblett wasn’t without criticism following a title fight that turned into a brawl on multiple occasions.
Gaethje picked up his 26th professional win with another standout performance in the UFC, and he may have just set up his next big moment.
‘The Highlight’ is coming off a thrilling victory over Paddy Pimblett, although the title bout was criticised at times for devolving into more of a brawl than a technical showcase.
Poirier praised Gaethje for ending Pimblett’s unbeaten run inside the Octagon, saying it was a win for the legends.
After UFC 324, there was talk about how their careers stack up against each other. Both fighters have been through plenty of ups and downs. Gaethje is known for his highlight-reel finishes, while Poirier has built a strong record with wins over some of the top names in the division.
Henry Cejudo: Gaethje edges Poirier in legacy debate
Gaethje was quick to defend his former opponent, despite their history in the Octagon, and that respect hasn’t faded.
Poirier has even said he’d consider a third fight with Gaethje, even though he retired last year.
The two fighters had overlapping careers, and Henry Cejudo recently shared his thoughts on who left a bigger mark during an episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast. While Kamaru Usman opted to stay out of the discussion, ‘Triple C’ didn’t hesitate to share his perspective.
“It is Justin. What he’s been able to do, what he’s been able to give to the fans,” Cejudo argued. “Poirier has lost to people that you’re like, ‘Oh, he beat Poirier?’… He’s always given everything that he’s had and the only time he’s really been put to sleep is against [Max] Holloway.
“That is Hall of Fame worthy so yeah, who has the more legendary career? It’s 100% Justin Gaethje.”
Key differences in the careers of Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier
While Dustin Poirier has stepped away from fighting, at least for now, Justin Gaethje is still very much in the mix, with a major bout ahead of him.
Both fighters have held interim lightweight titles before, but if ‘The Highlight’ manages to beat one of the top names in the division – Ilia Topuria – for the undisputed belt, it would stand out as his biggest achievement.
On the other hand, you could make a case for ‘The Diamond’s’ edge coming from his longevity in the sport.
Gaethje recently matched Poirier’s record number of Fight of the Night bonuses despite having fought 17 fewer times inside the Octagon.
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