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 has responded to Justin Gaethje accusing him of 'talking b****cks' for suggesting Dustin Poirier should have the next title shot. 

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

Bisping suggested the victory should make him the logical next contender to Islam Makhachev's title, a route that Gaethje took exception to on X, writing: 'Bisping talking b****cks.'

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

And now Bisping has come back to explain his reasoning, telling MMA Fighting: 'Justin Gaethje kind of came at me on Twitter and I understand. 

'No. 1, I'm not the matchmaker. I was just throwing it out there saying, wow, with that performance and the way that fight went down with Dustin Poirier, I see a reason and why he might get that opportunity. 

'But the main reason I said that was because Justin Gaethje is fighting a featherweight. So right now, you're booked up.

'Islam wants to be busy. Apparently still wants to fight three times this year. If he wasn't booked to fight Max Holloway, I would say, well, that doesn't make sense, Justin Gaethje's the guy. 

'But he's booked, simple as that. And guess what? You're fighting someone that isn't named Islam Makhachev. You're fighting someone that isn't even a 155er. 

'That's just the landscape that we're in because of a contract that he signed. Nothing to do with me.'

Evidently Gaethje is supremely confident about beating Holloway for the BMF belt this weekend but if 'Blessed' was to spring the upset, Poirier's chances of 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 previously fallen short in their attempts at becoming lightweight champion so are desperate for another attempt. 

'The Highlight' tasted defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, the same opponents who saw off Poirier.