Michael Bisping hits back after Justin Gaethje accused him of ‘talking b****cks’ ahead of UFC 300, with Brit claiming Dustin Poirier should have next shot at Islam Makhachev’s title

Michael Bisping responded to Justin Gaethje by accusing him of “talking idiots” for suggesting Dustin Poirier should get the next title shot.

Poirier, who was knocked out by Gaethje’s stunning head kick in July of last year, bounced back with a surprising victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299.

Bisping suggested that the victory should make him the next logical contender to Islam Makhachev’s title, a route Gaethje objected to in X, writing: “Bisping, you talking idiots.”

Gaethje will fight Max Holloway in one of the most exciting fights at UFC 300 this Saturday night.

And now Bisping has explained his reasoning again, telling MMA fighting: ‘Justin Gaethje reached out to me on Twitter and I understand.

‘No. 1, I’m not the matchmaker. I was just saying, wow, with that performance and the way the fight with Dustin Poirier went, I see a reason and why he might have that opportunity.

“But the main reason I said that was because Justin Gaethje is fighting a featherweight. So right now you’re loaded.

‘Islam wants to be busy. Apparently he still wants to fight three times this year. If he wasn’t booked to fight Max Holloway, I’d say, well, that doesn’t make sense, Justin Gaethje is the one.

But he is reprimanded, simple as that. And guess what? You are fighting someone not named Islam Makhachev. You’re fighting someone who isn’t even a 155er.

‘That’s the scenario we find ourselves in because of a contract he signed. Nothing to do with me.’

Gaethje is obviously very confident in beating Holloway for the BMF belt this weekend, but if ‘Blessed’ were to cause the upset, Poirier’s chances of getting the next shot at Mahachev would increase.

The Russian was last in action in October 2023 and beat Alexander Volkanovski for the second time.

Both Gaethje and Poirier have fallen short in their attempts to become lightweight champions, so they are desperate for another try.

‘The Highlight’ tasted defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, the same rivals who defeated Poirier.