UFC fans may have seen the last of Justin Gaethje in the sport unless he is granted his lightweight title shot.
The former UFC BMF champion has won three of his last four fights and saved the UFC 313 card when he accepted a late notice rematch against Rafael Fiziev, beating him via a dominant decision.
When the UFC boss Dana White announced that Islam Makhachev had vacated his lightweight title and that Charles Oliveira would fight Ilia Topuria for the vacant strap, Gaethje was left seething to miss out.
Despite Justin Gaethje‘s hopes, he has fought for the undisputed lightweight title on two previous occasions, losing to both ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Arman Tsarukyan congratulates Justin Gaethje on UFC retirement following furious comments
Just a few weeks removed from the news that Topuria and Oliveira will clash for the title, ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje has made a huge claim.
According to the former interim champion’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, Gaethje has claimed that he will retire from the sport if he isn’t guaranteed the next title shot to fight the winner of the UFC 317 main event.
Unfortunately for Gaethje, he was likely next in line to fight for the title before he accepted a fight against Max Holloway at UFC 300, which ended brutally for him as he was knocked out cold.
“He said ‘If I’m not gonna fight for the title, I’m just gonna hang up my gloves.’ He said, ‘I’m not gonna get a title shot, I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel that the UFC has to love me back’, and he doesn’t feel the love right now,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio.
And following Gaethje’s comments, he has been prematurely congratulated on his retirement by fellow lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan.
“Congratulations on an amazing career. Enjoy your retirement,” Tsarukyan said on X as he hinted that Gaethje won’t get the next title shot.
Who will get the next lightweight title shot?
Although ‘Ahalkalakets’ doesn’t think the 36-year-old will get the next title shot, Gaethje may find himself above the Armenian in the pecking order.
Tsarukyan still seemingly has a way to go to make it up to the UFC after he withdrew from his scheduled title fight against Makhachev just a day out from UFC 311.
Following the event, White stated that Tsarukyan would have to work his way back up to a title fight but he hasn’t fought since.
If the Brazilian successfully beats Topuria at UFC 317, it seems unlikely that Gaethje will be picked next. However, if ‘El Matador’ becomes the new lightweight champion, a fight between he and Gaethje would be an utter spectacle.