Justin Gaethje to Call Time on Career if UFC Don't Grant His Wish

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Justin Gaethje might be ready to call it quits on his UFC career if his one wish does not get granted this year.

The 34-year-old lightweight contender has been waiting more than a year for his title shot, a prize in which he feels he’s earned through his relentless fighting style and impressive victories over the last few years.

Ali Abdelaziz, Gaethje’s manager, recently revealed a stunning ultimatum on Submission Radio: “[Justin] said to me ‘if I don’t fight for the title, I’m just gonna hang up my gloves… I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel the UFC has to love me back.’”

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Justin Gaethje Wants UFC to Give Him Winner of Topuria vs Oliveira

At UFC 317, set for June 28 during International Fight Week, former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria (16-0) and former lightweight king Charles Oliveira (35-10) will battle for the vacant lightweight belt. The title was vacated by Islam Makhachev (27-1), who moved up to welterweight to chase a second belt after Jack Della Maddalena destroyed Belal Muhammad.

Gaethje’s manager made it clear that Gaethje sees the winner of Topuria vs Oliveira as his rightful next opponent. If the UFC denies him that chance, Gaethje’s career could be over.

Justin Gaethje’s Entertaining Career is Missing One Last Thing

Gaethje has a reputation for delivering electrifying and heart-stopping fights, hence his nickname “The Highlight”. He has challenged for the lightweight title twice before, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Charles Oliveira in 2022. Despite the losses, Gaethje’s highlight reel includes wins over top names like Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone, Edson Barboza, and Michael Johnson.

But the brutal battles have taken a toll. Gaethje’s recent comments suggest he’s no longer willing to risk everything unless the stakes are legendary. If this is true, it would make sense if he doesn’t want to compete in full-on wars unless it could change his legacy.

The American certainly has nothing to prove in terms of sheer heart, violence and entertainment, but his career is missing UFC gold. He had a chance to win a UFC belt at UFC 300 against Max Holloway for the BMF title, and after a thrilling war for four rounds, Gaethje was chasing a knockout and decided to go out swinging – literally until the final buzzer.

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With 10 seconds on the clock, both men met in the centre of the octagon and winged in hooks and uppercuts before “Blessed” knocked Gaethje out cold with exactly 4:59 seconds on the clock in the fifth round. In some ways, that defeat kind of summarises Gaethje’s UFC career: full of action and violence, but falls short at the final hurdle.

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