Justin Gaethje has indicated he will compete in the UFC again, but only under a specific condition.
The former BMF titleholder was clearly unhappy after being passed over for the next lightweight championship opportunity at UFC 317. Instead, former champion Charles Oliveira, who previously fought Gaethje, was selected to challenge the undefeated Ilia Topuria for the vacant belt during International Fight Week.
Oliveira holds a 2-2 record in his last four bouts, compared to Gaethje`s 3-1 record over the same timeframe, with his only recent loss being a devastating knockout by Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024. UFC analyst Din Thomas suggested that Gaethje would have been a more exciting opponent for Topuria, speculating that the knockout loss to Holloway likely factored into the UFC`s decision to proceed with Oliveira.
Following the disappointment of being overlooked for the title shot, Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, claimed that Gaethje would retire if he isn`t given a title opportunity. This would represent Gaethje`s third attempt at the undisputed title, having lost his previous two shots as a former interim champion. In contrast, his rival Dustin Poirier received a third title shot against Islam Makhachev last year.
Declaring he is no longer fighting simply for enjoyment, Justin Gaethje has now addressed the retirement ultimatum put forth by his manager.
Gaethje`s Condition: Only Fight the Winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira
Despite being mentioned as a potential opponent for fighters like Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett, it appears Gaethje is unwilling to settle for anything less than a lightweight title fight at this stage of his career.
Speaking to MMA Fighting`s Jose Youngs, Gaethje made his intentions clear:
“I’m waiting for the winner of Ilia and Charles,” Gaethje said. “I’ll be there. That’s who I want to fight.”
Commentary on the potential retirement was more nuanced:
“Let’s see how it goes,” Gaethje remarked about the ultimatum. “Catch me on a certain day. I’ll tell you a certain thing. It’s a very emotional sport, but I try not to speak too out of pocket when I’m emotional, which is right now.”
He concluded definitively on his future plans:
“So, I’m going to fight again in the future. Has to be the champion.”
Gaethje Gives His Take on Ilia Topuria`s Welterweight Talks
Despite being scheduled for a lightweight bout, Topuria has recently discussed the possibility of moving up to the welterweight division, potentially aiming for a third championship title.
Regarding Topuria`s exploration of the welterweight division, Gaethje offered his perspective:
“I can’t control any of that, so I don’t spend no energy on it,” Gaethje said. “But, sounds stupid to me.”
Jack Thornley