Dustin Poirier told reporters at the UFC 291 media day that his BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje will be a legacy fight.
The pair will go head-to-head for the second time this Saturday in what promises to be an all out war. When they first fought back in 2018, Poirier finished Gaethje by TKO in the fourth round. These fighters leave it all in the octagon every time, and it is highly likely we will see fireworks and another stoppage at UFC 291.
Dustin Poirier Wants BMF Legacy
When Poirier was asked whether he cared about the BFM belt or not, he replied: “It’s cool. It’s a legacy fight. It’s history, it’s legacy, it’s fun. Even to have your name in the hat to be considered for a fight like this is a special thing.”
The idea of the BMF belt may seem gimmicky to some. It resembles an accolade you’d find in professional wresting, not the UFC. That being said, Poirier and Gaethje will be the first on the majority of lists when thinking about this title and what it represents. The two lightweights are among the most entertaining athletes on the UFC roster and are never in a dull fight. They are the epitome of violence in the sport of MMA, so if the BMF belt is sticking around, why not put it on the line in this very fight?
A High Stakes Battle
“This is who I am and what I do,” said Poirier. “What never goes away is those feelings and that anxiety all week. Thinking about the fight when I lay down at night – that never goes away.”
It is no surprise that ‘The Diamond’ feels this way. There are very few fights that guarantee entertainment, but this one does. Styles make fights, and with both bringing a whirlwind style to the cage, both Poirier and Gaethje wouldn’t be human if they didn’t feel any nerves.
Poirier admitted that after the first fight he hoped they would never have to do it again, but here we are. Both men have improved since 2018 and it will be fascinating to see how Saturday will play out. Being top guys in their weight class and consistently winning fights, it was bound to come around again.
“We’ve got to do this. We’re on a collision course to do this again,” said Poirier. He was asked if a victory would mean a number one contender spot, but Poirier is clearly focused on the task at hand. “I’m fully focused on 25 minutes with Justin, and it’s war time man,” he said.
The Baddest of Them All
In the last seven years, Poirier has only lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. They were both title fights, and it is uncanny how similar Gaethje’s record is in this sense. They both have an incredible resume proving their durability, toughness and skill, but fell just short of UFC gold. This may be the last title run that both fighters make.
“Everyone knows. People at home who follow the sport know what this is and I want to go there. I think that’s where I do my best work,” said Poirier. When talking about his opponent, he added: “He’s kind of got that aura about him now. The chaos and the most violent and all that, but I really am that and he knows that, so let’s go there.”
UFC 291 is a stacked card and Poirier vs. Gaethje is the icing on the cake. Main events don’t come much better than this and it is one that no fan will want to miss. The added pageantry of the BMF belt only boosts the hype and the drama, and come Saturday night the combat sports world will be salivating at the prospect of these two warriors facing off once again.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
