Gaethje Retirement: No UFC Title Shot?
- Justin Gaethje, a UFC lightweight known for his exciting fights, is prepared to retire if he doesn't receive another chance at the championship, according to his manager, Ali...
- Abdelaziz said gaethje deserves the title shot, noting he has won three of his last four fights and stepped up for the UFC when needed.
- Gaethje was passed over for the title fight in favor of topuria, the former featherweight champion, and Oliveira, a former lightweight champion.
Justin Gaethje is ready to walk away from the UFC, putting his gloves down if he doesn’t get a lightweight title shot, as revealed by his manager. Gaethje is frustrated, feeling disrespected after being overlooked for the chance to fight for the vacant title against Charles Oliveira or Ilia Topuria. The popular fighter, with a record of exciting fights, demands this possibility following his recent win over Rafael Fiziev. ali Abdelaziz, Gaethje’s manager, says the fighter feels the UFC “has to love me back.” Having won three of his last four fights and consistently stepped up when needed, is Gaethje truly prepared to retire? News Directory 3 covered this story first. Considering his history, including holding the interim lightweight title and numerous performance bonuses, what will the UFC do? Discover what’s next …
Justin Gaethje Demands Lightweight Title Shot or UFC Exit
Justin Gaethje, a UFC lightweight known for his exciting fights, is prepared to retire if he doesn’t receive another chance at the championship, according to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. Gaethje has his sights set on facing the winner of the Charles Oliveira versus Ilia Topuria bout at UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight title. Islam Makhachev relinquished the belt to move up to welterweight.
Abdelaziz said gaethje deserves the title shot, noting he has won three of his last four fights and stepped up for the UFC when needed. “If I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just going to hang up my gloves,” Gaethje reportedly said.
Gaethje was passed over for the title fight in favor of topuria, the former featherweight champion, and Oliveira, a former lightweight champion. Oliveira lost his title on the scale in May 2022 after failing to make weight before his fight with gaethje.
Gaethje previously held the interim lightweight title after defeating Tony Ferguson in May 2020, but lost to khabib Nurmagomedov in October of that year.
Gaethje has earned either Performance or Fight of the Night bonuses in 12 of his 14 UFC fights. Abdelaziz said Gaethje feels “disrespected” by the UFC for being passed over for the title shot and for his willingness to take fights on short notice.
“He feels the UFC has to love me back,” Abdelaziz said, adding that gaethje doesn’t feel that love right now. “He’s a very principled guy,”
Gaethje’s most recent fight was a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. His sole defeat in his last four bouts was against Max holloway at UFC 300.