Top lightweight contender Justin Gaethje left UFC 317 empty-handed.
The former BMF Champion and interim titleholder thinks he’s due a title opportunity after winning three out of his last four fights, coming through for the company when they ‘begged’ him to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300.
You might imagine how Gaethje reacted to the news he wouldn’t be fighting for the lightweight title next as Charles Oliveira got the title shot against Ilia Topuria at this year’s International Fight Week.
Upset by the title fight snub, Gaethje threatened to retire from the UFC if he was not given the winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira at UFC 317.
Gaethje was in attendance for the lightweight title fight in Las Vegas and the UFC veteran lost in more ways than one on fight night.
Justin Gaethje was the only contender Ilia Topuria didn’t mention in his post-fight interview
After Topuria knocked out Oliveira in the opening round, the UFC put cameras on three lightweight contenders cageside: Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Paddy Pimblett.
Topuria mentioned Tsarukyan, saying, ‘when it comes time to deliver, his back hurts’, taking a shot at the injury that pulled him out of a title bout against Islam Makhachev earlier this year at UFC 311.
Joe Rogan also invited the #8-ranked Pimblett into the Octagon for a viral face-off with Topuria that UFC CEO Dana White wasn’t a fan of.
Gaethje was unequivocally the odd man out at UFC 317, with the champion making no mention of his name until later in the night when he was asked about a potential fight with Gaethje—it turns out Topuria isn’t all that interested.
To make matters worse for Gaethje, White told ‘The Highlight’ to retire after hearing about his title fight ultimatum.
“The biggest loser tonight was Justin Gaethje,” one fan wrote on X following UFC 317.
“Never be a company man. Justin Gaethje helped save UFC 300 and look how Dana is treating him,” another fan said.
“Justin Gaethje just standing there as they bring Paddy into the cage… Being a company man really don’t get you s—, lesson learned,” another fan chimed in.
Justin Gaethje could be headed for retirement with everything that transpired at UFC 317
If Ilia Topuria’s face-off with Paddy Pimblett garnered enough interest to be the next lightweight title fight, we could potentially see Gaethje bow out at 155 lbs.
Gaethje is coming off a near-finish of top contender Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, having successfully rebounded from a devastating KO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 last year.
Before that, Gaethje had knocked out Dustin Poirier and had beaten Fiziev on a full training camp in 2023 to reinsert himself into the lightweight title picture.
With how White responded to Gaethje’s retirement ultimatum at the post-fight press conference, there’s absolutely no guarantee Gaethje will be next in line for Topuria—especially now that Pimblett’s in Topuria’s crosshairs.
Feeling he’s ‘owed’ a title fight, Gaethje has maintained he won’t fight unless it’s for the belt, which could complicate things and possibly end the legendary 31-fight career of the 36-year-old.