Henry Cejudo thinks Justin Gaethje has had a better UFC career than Dustin Poirier.
Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) became a two-time interim lightweight champion when he defeated Paddy Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 324 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Gaethje is expected to unify his belt against champion Ilia Topuria, which will be his third crack at undisputed gold. Cejudo was asked who has had a more legendary career between Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, who boasts similar accolades to “The Highlight.”
“It is Justin,” Cejudo said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Justin, what he’s been able to do, what he’s been able to give to the fans – Poirier has lost to people where you’re like, ‘Oh, he beat Poirier?’ Gaethje has taken Ls, but they’ve always been to people you’re like, ‘God!’ It’s never been a flash knockout or a knockout or anything of that nature.
“He’s always given everything that he’s had, and the only time he’s really been put to sleep is against Holloway. He comes and he delivers. There’s never a boring or a dull moment in his fights, and that is Hall of Fame-worthy. So who has the more legendary career? It’s 100 percent Justin Gaethje.”
Like Gaethje, the now retired Poirier captured the interim lightweight title, but failed to become undisputed throughout his career. The pair shared the octagon twice, with Poirier winning by knockout in 2018, and Gaethje avenging the loss with a knockout of his own to become BMF champion at UFC 291.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Henry Cejudo compares Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier’s careers
