5 opponents for Justin Gaethje when he returns to the UFC

#2. Former UFC title challenger Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier has taken an extended break since his last UFC fight and could be looking for another lucrative payday. Both he and Justin Gaethje have something in common: they've lost title fights to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. With that said, now could be the right time for the promotion to book a rematch between the former interim champions.

'The Diamond' and 'The Highlight' last fought in 2018 in a bout that saw Poirier finish Justin Gaethje via fourth-round TKO. The loss was a turning point for Gaethje, as he then went on to win 4 straight fights. These victories included 'Cowboy' Cerrone, Edson Barbosa, and Tony Ferguson, and all came via KO/TKO.

Poirier has become a bigger star in the promotion in recent years after earning back-to-back wins against Conor McGregor. Both fighters are much more popular than they were in their first bout, so the rematch could attract plenty of attention to a pay-per-view card.

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#1. Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor

There has been plenty of speculation about when Conor McGregor will make his UFC return and who his opponent will be. The former two-division champion is recovering from a leg injury he sustained during his last fight with Dustin Poirier. The timetable for his return looks to be sometime later this year or in the first quarter of 2023.

McGregor has kept himself relevant, and as always, many fighters are calling him out. Even former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira was open to 'Mystic Mac' challenging him for the title.

Gaethje and McGregor are both strikers, so the bout would almost certainly garner plenty of attention. Michael Chandler, who competes at 155lbs, offered to fight 'The Notorious' at 170 pounds, so perhaps Justin Gaethje will do the same, especially if it means getting the most lucrative fight of his career.