Justin Gaethje suspects that the UFC aimed to sideline him after his devastating last-second knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 for the BMF title.
Following the defeat to Holloway, Gaethje took a nearly year-long hiatus before returning to the win column against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. His subsequent fight saw him secure an interim lightweight title at UFC 324, where he dominated Paddy Pimblett over five rounds.
Gaethje is now set to face the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, on June 14. He believes the UFC strategically booked him against hungry contenders like Fiziev and Pimblett after the Holloway loss, hoping that further defeats would prompt his retirement.
However, Gaethje delivered strong performances in both of those fights. He stated in an interview with Grind City Media, “I’ve had two wins since [the loss to Holloway], it’s been awesome, I mean, they’ve tried to get rid of me. They don’t wanna get rid of me, I’m a great fighter for the company. I’ve held of these young up-and-comers, f*cking, these guys are so hungry. Paddy was so hungry, Fiziev is so hungry.”
Gaethje has previously indicated that a knockout loss to Topuria on June 14 could lead to his retirement. Conversely, a victory would likely see him aim for at least two title defenses before considering stepping away from the sport.