Justin Gaethje showed little respect for his next opponent ahead of their UFC showdown. Known as one of the most electrifying fighters in the UFC, Gaethje was rightly chosen to headline the promotion’s first event on Paramount+. At 37 years old, he remains in pursuit of the undisputed lightweight title, a prize he has missed out on twice. To earn another shot, Gaethje must defeat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 this Saturday to claim the interim lightweight championship for the second time.
Gaethje aims to leave Las Vegas with the interim title and hopefully secure a unification bout in the future. However, things could have played out differently six years ago—he might have retired before getting his chance at UFC gold. Back then, Gaethje faced James Vick, who was 13-1 and riding a four-fight winning streak. Despite Vick’s strong record, Gaethje openly expressed disdain for him and even suggested he might retire if he lost.
Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA show, Gaethje said, “I’m way better than James Vick… if I go out there and lose to James Vick, I’m going to have to hang them up.” He described Vick as slow and questioned his own standing if he were to lose. Fans were relieved when Gaethje bounced back from losses by knocking out Vick in under 90 seconds, kicking off a run that led to an interim title win over Tony Ferguson.
Looking ahead to UFC 324, Gaethje’s coach Trevor Wittman revealed that this could be Gaethje’s final fight. Speaking to ESPN, Wittman said the career of his fighter hinges on the outcome—no win means no further UFC fights. “If we don’t win this fight, we can’t continue. We’re not going to be gatekeepers,” Wittman said. He noted the importance of Gaethje’s health and family, emphasizing that after winning the title, Gaethje’s goal is to focus on defending it.
Fan Take: This upcoming fight is pivotal not just for Gaethje but for the lightweight division’s future landscape. A win or loss here could define the closing chapter of one of UFC’s most exciting careers and shift the titles and momentum within the sport.
