Justin Gaethje is pretty upset he didn’t get to fight Ilia Topuria at UFC 317.
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion and BMF titleholder thinks he’s due another title shot after a near-finish of Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March.
Justin Gaethje is 0-2 in undisputed title fights, falling to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Gaethje, 36, has built quite the case for a third crack at the title by defeating Dustin Poirier and Fiziev (twice).
Arguably the most exciting fighter on the roster, the #4-ranked Gaethje was passed up for the next lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. UFC analyst Din Thomas believes it may have been a result of Gaethje’s viral KO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 last year.
Gaethje’s manager recently made headlines when he stated Gaethje would retire if he wasn’t given a title shot against the winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira.
Amid concern for the end of his career, Gaethje has spoken out regarding his next move.
Justin Gaethje says the UFC ‘owes’ him a championship fight, done fighting for fun
Speaking on The Makeshift Podcast, Gaethje makes his stance clear when it comes to fighting in the UFC.
“I don’t plan on ever fighting anywhere else,” Gaethje said.
“But I’m also not gonna fight for fun anymore. They owe me a championship fight,” Gaethje said of the UFC.
“I’m 3-1 last four [fights]. They came to my house, begged me to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300. I consider it an exhibition, but I don’t mean that the loss is not on my record. I mean it had nothing to do with the rankings.
“In the time I did that, Dustin Poirier who I just beat, got a good win over [Benoit] Saint-Denis and then fought for the belt. And then since I’ve won, the champion’s been saying he wants to fight me. They
could have easily set that up, but they didn’t.
“Then, he vacates and then Oliveira’s 2-2 in last four fights, already has a loss to Makhachev, and they bring a brand new guy in, and I get f—– again. So, I’m not going to fight any of these for fun unless they pay me so much more money,” Gaethje added.
“You’re either going to take a risky fight, and if I lose, I’m going to be set up. If I win, I’m fighting for a belt or I’m not doing it.”
Justin Gaethje waiting for guarantee he’ll fight winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
With 14 appearances under the UFC banner, Gaethje could be one fight away from $1M in performance bonuses alone.
The 9X ‘fight of the night’ winner has fought a murderer’s row in the lightweight division. Gaethje knocked Dustin Poirier with a head kick to win the BMF title, snapped Tony Ferguson’s legendary 12-fight win streak and went up against the undefeated Nurmagomedov in his retirement fight back in 2020.
Gaethje says if anybody deserves the next title shot, it’s him.
“I’m the most consistent guy,” the former BMF champion said.
“I think anybody that’s ever performed for their company and been as consistent as an employee for their company gets a Christmas bonus, gets a thank you, gets a good f—— job, like, nah, I’m done doing s— here…”
“I love fighting for the UFC, I never want to fight somewhere else, but I’m not gonna just throw my legacy away for anybody.
“I’m waiting for them to announce it,” Gaethje said, expecting the UFC to give him the title shot against the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
“[Oliveira] is 2-2, I’m 3-1. I mean, what do you want me to do? Not my fault [Dan] Hooker dropped out.”