A lightweight all-action scrap went down tonight (Sat., April 14, 2018) at UFC on Fox 29, broadcast live from inside Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. No. 6th-ranked Justin Gaethje faced off with No. 5th-ranked Dustin Poirier in the closest thing to guaranteed violence possible in the eight-sided cage. Gaethje was coming off his first career loss, a hard-fought third-round KO to Eddie Alvarez, which followed an epic debut win against Michael Johnson. Poirier, following a TKO loss to Johnson, had beaten Jim Miller, gone to a controversial no-contest with Eddie Alvarez after Alvarez landed two illegal knees, then beat former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in a thriller. A win would put him in title contention, while a Gaethje win would put him in position for a top contender bout.
The fighters could not wait, Dustin telling Justin “let’s go” at the face-off. They touched gloves. Dustin landed a double jab from southpaw. Gaethje ate a left—right combination, landed several inside leg kicks. Dustin drove forward with a heavy-handed combination. Gaethje covered up, narrowly missing an upppercut. He wiped blood from his eye, cut early. An inside leg kick made Poirier slipped. Gaethje blocked Poirier, Poirier landed a long combination that included a body hook. Gaethje pressured, landed a combination of his own. He landed a lead hook. Poirier landed a hard combination off the arms. Poirier landed a heavy handed series of punches. Gaethje covered, ducked, fired off a counter right hand that missed. Poirier landed a hard body shot. Gaethje finally opened with a jab. He ducked and fired off a right hand. Dustin’s leg got kicked out again, he came back with a heavy combination, Gaethje really ate some heavy leather. He came in with a right hand, landed a combination of his own.
Gaethje continued his pressure in the second, pressing forward and landing a combination. He ducked in and landed a right hand. Poirier feinted, ate a leg kick. He landed another series of punches. Gaethje poked Poirier in his eye, causing a brief stoppage to the bout. Dustin declined to bring in the doctor, and they continued the carnage at an even faster pace. Dustin landed a nice straight left. Gaethje landed a leg kick, pressed forward. They traded in the pocket. Dustin avoided a hook-cross combo from Justin. Poirier ripped the body, ate another leg kick. He was very stationary but Justin blocked a very long combination. Dustin landed a hard right hand, shot in, stuffed. Gaethje broke the clinch, Poirier touched him with several jabs and landed a heavy uppercut and right hook. Gaethje landed an outside leg kick. Gaethje absorbed an insane amount of punishment, and Poirier landed another right. Gaethje landed another leg kick, Poirier grabbed it for a single leg, couldn’t finish it and they traded punches and elbows in the clinch. As the round ended Gaethje threw his infamous rolling thunder kick. Dustin stayed crouched over with his hands on his knees after the bell sounded. His coaches elevated his legs between rounds, applying ice to his hurting leg.
Gaethje grinned and get the crowd going. Gaethje landed a leg kick and rolled away from Dustin catching his leg. Gaethje ate a jab, moved forward, threw a one-two. Poirier circled out, landed a takedown but Gaethje got right up. Poirier landed a nice body shot. Gaethje landed another leg kick. He got Poirier to the cage, Poirier circled away and he landed another leg kick. He slipped the jab and landed a right hand, hurting Poirier. Gaethje pressured to the cage and got to the clinch, landing an uppercut. Poirier threw back; Gaethje kneed his leg. Gaethje ate another couple knees and broke away. They traded punches, Gaethje landed another leg kick. Poirier ate another leg kick, landed a jab and right hand. He shot in and Gaethje got him against the cage with the clinch. Poirier landed an elbow, Gaethje ate a left straight and circled away. Gaethje poked Poirier’s eye, and Gaethje got a point taken from him by referee Herb Dean, justifiably so. Gaethje shook his head at the boos from the crowd and waved them up. The doctor came in to check on Poirier. Poirier insisted he was okay to fight. They restarted and Poirier poked Gaethje at the end of the round! He said something to Justin afterwards, which seemed a gesture of sportsmanship.
Justin’s coach told him “stay on the legs!” between rounds. Poirier rocked Gaethje, landing a hard left straight as Gaethje threw another inside leg kick! Gaethje stumbled away, and Poirier poured it on! Gaethje was stumbling all over the Octagon, unable to recover his balance. Poirier stayed punching until he went down, and referee Herb Dean stopped the bout! What a finish for Dustin Poirier, what an incredible war. Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier gave us an unforgettable war tonight in Glendale, Arizona.
“I mean, I’m not trying to DIE but fuck…” – Justin Gaethje explaining his disdain for the stoppage with Herb Dean and Dustin Poirier #UFCGlendale
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) April 15, 2018
Dustin Poirier got the crowd to cheer for him and Gaethje after the bout. He said he has been knocked out and climbed back to the top in two different divisions, and shouted at Dana, the UFC, and Khabib for the title fight. He has certainly vaulted himself to the top of the contender list with this win.
Official result: Dustin Poirier def. Justin Gaethje via TKO at :33 of Round 4
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