Justin Gaethje offers unusual theory on why Dustin Poirier won’t fight Michael Chandler

Justin Gaethje defeated Conor McGregor in the main evet of UFC 257, edging Justin Gaethje out of the #1 contender spot. During a recent interview with John Morgan and Danny Segura for MMA Junkie, “The Highlight” argued that the UFC has botched the lightweight title picture.

Division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is likely retired, and if he does return, it will be a catchweight superfight vs. GSP, not a title defense. UFC president Dana White wants Poirier to fight Michael Chandler, who had a spectacular win over #6 ranked Dan Hooker in the UFC 258 co-main, but “The Diamond” has refused bluntly. He argues that Chandler, a former three time Bellator MMA champ, should work his way up in the UFC ranks first. However, Gaethje believes that Poirier’s refusal to fight Chandler is because of a failed contract negotiation for a Poirier vs. Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 256.

The reason why this is happening with Poirier is because Dana White literally used, he tried to, he did, he f***ed Tony [Ferguson] and Dustin, said Gaethje. He said f*** you guys, I’m going to take Chandler, and he’s going to be the backup for this title fight. That all happened four months ago. We are humans, we have principles, we have morals, and that’s what that is. That’s why Dustin Poirier is saying that [he won’t fight Chandler]. I would assume. I don’t talk to the guy.

He didn’t just s*** on Dustin Poirier, He didn’t just s*** on Tony Ferguson. He s*** on every single f*** fighter that wants to do it right and wants integrity to the sport, and that’s why Dustin Poirier is talking like he is.

That’s just the truth. You remember how upset Tony and Dustin were whenever they didn’t put that fight together [at UFC 256]. They were probably $50,000 or $100,000 off one of their contracts, and they didn’t put the contract together and those guys were ready to fight.

They put it in the public, and that s*** is not right. I don’t like that. I don’t like that as a fighter. I don’t like that as an employee. Well, I’m no f***ing employee but being somebody that offers my services to the company. That’s not cool. You don’t want to see that. … I just know that’s why Dustin is saying what he’s saying, and that’s why he won’t fight Chandler for the title right now because they did that s*** in October. You know it. I know it. I don’t know it, but I’m pretty sure.

I’m happy. I’m not dissatisfied. I don’t want to fight anywhere else. … This is the company to showcase your skills on the highest level. I try to be a company man since Day 1.