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Justin Gaethje May Retire If Not Given Title Fight
Justin Gaethje May Retire If Not Given Title Fight
Former BMF Champion and interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje may retire if not given a title fight in his next bout, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz.
Abdelaziz’s spoke about Gaethje’s future in an interview with Submission Radio. All quotes via MMAFighting.
“Justin Gaethje fights the winner,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “He’s won three of his last four, he saved the UFC two times. They needed him, and he’s there. The guy did so much for the sport. If anyone said he doesn’t deserve it—he said, ‘If I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just going to hang up my gloves.’”
“He’s a very principled guy,” Abdelaziz said. “I never—he feels strongly about this. He told me this yesterday. I was at the fight, he said, ‘I’m not going to get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel the UFC has to love me back.’ And he doesn’t feel the love right now.“
Gaethje’s desire for a title fight has some basis. At the same time, it is hard to claim that he deserves the next title fight.
At UFC 300, Gaethje did the UFC a massive favor when he put the BMF title on the line to fight Max Holloway. He entered the fight on a two-fight win streak that had him closing in on a UFC title fight. Instead of waiting to fight for the title, he agreed to fight Holloway. Unfortunately, that fight cost him all of his momentum as he was on the wrong side of an all-time great knockout.
The UFC 317 main event will crown a new lightweight champion. Ilia Topuira and Charles Oliveira will fight for the division’s throne. After that matchup, a few other fighters will have a rightful claim to fight for the title. Holloway is booked to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 318. A win in that fight warrants a title fight considering his aforementioned win over Gaethje. Although, a potential rematch with Topuria may not be the desired fight at the moment. Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan is still riding a four-fight win streak and holds the No. 1 rank.
Thankfully for Gaethje, Makhachev’s move up to welterweight sped up the lightweight title picture. The fact that Topuria and Oliveira are fighting each other for the title helped appease both fighters’ desire to fight for the title at the same time.
Ultimately, Abdelaziz believes the UFC will meet Gaethje’s demands.
“But listen, at the end of the day, I think, this guy, they love him. I think they will give him what he wanted. But at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles (Oliveira) and Ilia (Topuria).”
A UFC lightweight title is the only accomplishment missing from Gaethje’s title chase. At 36 years old, he is attempting to ensure he gets another crack at the title. The UFC may give him the opportunity. Regardless, fans will be devastated if one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport walks away.
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