After registering a win at UFC 313 against Rafael Fiziev, Justin Gaethje looks set for bigger challenges. There were two options to be considered with one being Gaethje vs Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. However given there are many contenders already waiting, that might not happen. The Highlight needs to register another win to solidify himself as the number one xontender for the title.
A rematch against Max Holloway for the BMF title might be the best idea. We asked AI whether Dana White should schedule a rematch between Gaethje and Holloway after UFC 313. AI took into account their recent performances, the meaning of title contention, and fan interest before making the call.
Table of Contents
Recent Performances
Justin Gaethje’s Performance at UFC 313:
Justin Gaethje fought Rafael Fiziev in a rematch at UFC 313, where he won by unanimous decision. Gaethje’s key point in this fight was a win after being knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 300. It also assured that with three wins in the last four fights, the knockout surely places him in the elite list of contenders in the lightweight division.
Max Holloway’s Recent Performance:
Max Holloway last fought Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, where he secured a highly dramatic knockout victory against him in the dying seconds of the fight. This, in turn propelled him quite highly as no match in history had showcased such brilliant striking. It thus made him a contender in the featherweight division. “Blessed” lost the featherweight Championship match against Ilia Topuria. However, various speculations arose on which road Holloway would take from here and which fighters he would square against in the days following the loss.
Title Contention Implications
Gaethje’s Title Aspirations:
Following his win over Fiziev, Justin Gaethje declared he was seeking another shot at the lightweight title, his target being champion Islam Makhachev. But given that he was currently third-ranked in the lightweight division things look uncertain as of now.
He wasn’t interested in another fight with Holloway because their previous encounters were intense and damaging. Therefore, it would seem that “The Highlight” has his eyes set on lightweight championship aspirations instead of rematches.
Holloway’s Position:
A former champion and arguably one of the most thrilling fighters in MMA history, Holloway has always stood out, both in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. After permanently moving back to lightweight, a rematch against Justin Gaethje would (most likely) add more stumbling blocks to both the fighters. But a win here would again solidify his status as a top fighter in the lightweight division.
Fan Interest and Marketability
Excitement Factor:
Both fighters are renowned for their striking talent and fierce options in big clashes. That is why a rematch would hype the grips of the crazy fight-loving fans if done correctly. The first encounter was a good fight and an insane conclusion. Thus, it has a huge market in terms of pay-per-view buys if the marketing team plays it right.
Marketability Concerns:
Although the excitement for this fight is loud and clear, one must wonder whether this actually makes sense given the current paths that the two fighters are on. Justin Gaethje is aiming to face Makhachev for the title fight. Holloway, on the other hand, is trying to reinforce his marketability in the lightweight class without having to face each other again.
Conclusion
Given that Justin Gaethje just does the same stuff against Makhachev at UFC 313, that he should already want a title shot in lightweight now. After the knockout loss to Holloway, both fighters have struggled since then.
As per AI, Dana White should not book Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway after UFC 313 since each fighter has to score in their separate ways, and their next goals are title shots.
Aditya Khare