Savage head kick KO by Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291
Justin Gaethje claimed the Baddest Mother F***er title courtesy of a savage head-kick KO of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291.
The Highlight avenged his April 2018 loss to the Diamond in the process, with the main event lightweight bout only making it to the second round in Salt Lake City, Utah last night (July 29).
Gaethje caught Poirier completely unaware with a minute gone on the clock. His leg flew up and folded his opponent in half, forcing referee Herb Dean to intervene – slipping over as he did so.
After pulling out his trademark backflip celebration and being handed the BMF title by former champion Jorge Masvidal, Gaethje said post-fight: “I threw that against [Rafael] Fiziev one time.
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“And I was like, ‘Oh, that was nice.’ I knew after he threw his left hand that he was looking for counters. and I figured if I faked a counter I could get him.
“I landed it twice in the first round, but for some reason it just wrapped around the head that time. Maybe call it luck, I’m down with it.”
He’s now set his sights on the lightweight belt, which Islam Makhachev will defend against Charles Oliveira in their rematch at UFC 294 in October.
Does Gaethje have what it takes to be lightweight champ? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“You know what I want to do next, I want to fight for the world championship,” Gaethje told reporters. “These guys are fighting in October and I want to prove I’m in the best in the world. Win lose or draw, maximum effort is what you’re going to get out of me.”
He was, however, called out on Twitter by Conor McGregor, who posted: “Justin, I’ll slap you around.”
The Notorious then added: “I’m the real BMF, he can fight for pennies if he wants but I want spirits, I call the shots, I’m in it to launch shots, f*** [Michael] Chandler, you want it call for it.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Gaethje responded in his press conference, saying: “I think he’s turned me down six times. And usually you have to lose to fight him so I don’t know what’s going on.
“I don’t really care. I fight MMA, I like to fight big fights, I like exciting things, it sounds pretty exciting to me. I’m not gonna fight someone on steroids, I’ve never taken steroids in my life, never will – well maybe when I retire I might.
“But I’ve never taken steroids and I don’t want to fight someone that’s cheating. And I probably shouldn’t even say that if I want the fight but it’s the truth.”
