Justin Gaethje’s bold choice to wait has unexpectedly worked in his favor. He and his team are gearing up for UFC 324 next month, where he will face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship.
Initially, it looked unlikely that the American star would get a shot at the belt anytime soon, until Ilya Topuria announced she wouldn’t be competing for a while. Dana White didn’t seem to react much to Gaethje’s statement that he might retire if he doesn’t get to fight for UFC gold in his next bout. Gaethje recently shared what may have driven him to take such a firm stance on his UFC future.
Gaethje, known as “The Highlight,” has been a consistently exciting fighter and a valuable asset to the UFC. Despite warnings that his retirement ultimatum might backfire, he fought and defeated Rafael Fiziev in a quick replacement match last March. That fight, which was Gaethje’s second with Fiziev, highlighted his dedication and consistency inside the Octagon. Gaethje explained in a recent interview that his contract guarantees a certain payout for championship fights, which motivated him to push for big matches, as he aims to always outperform his last performance.
Looking ahead, Gaethje is clear that his UFC career is winding down. He openly admits that a loss at UFC 324 against Pimblett would make it difficult to claim the UFC title again. In interviews, he expressed that this period represents the final chapters of his career—a time to beat contenders like Paddy and Ilia before retiring.
Fan Take: Justin Gaethje’s determination to only compete in title-worthy matches underscores his legacy as one of the sport’s fiercest competitors. For fight fans, this chapter serves as a thrilling reminder that every bout counts when a legend is closing in on the end of his career, potentially shaping the lightweight division’s future.
