Outside Source
Justin Gaethje wants a lightweight title shot. |
Getty/UFC
Justin
Gaethje will consider himself dispensable if the
UFC wants him to fight Paddy
Pimblett.
Gaethje is currently at a crossroads in his UFC career. With a 3-1
record in his last four bouts, the lightweight contender has long
been rallying for a title shot. Gaethje recently teased retirement
if he doesn’t get the next lightweight title shot. Dana White
reacted by saying a fighter considering retirement should probably
retire.
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Former champ Islam
Makhachev was interested in defending his title against Gaethje
before vacating the belt. While Gaethje hoped to fight for the
vacant title, the opportunity went to former featherweight champ
Ilia
Topuria and Charles
Oliveira, who was 2-2 in his last four. Topuria knocked out
Oliveira to win the title at UFC 317
last month. Gaethje had long been rallying for the next shot
against the winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira. However, “El Matador”
called out No. Pimblett after his win over Oliveira.
Gaethje Frustrated with Lightweight Title Picture
Pimblett has previously called out Gaethje, who turned down the
matchup. With Pimblett now likely standing between him and a title
shot, Gaethje is still unwilling to fight “The Baddy.” Gaethje
believes the UFC doesn’t need him anymore if they want him to fight
the Liverpudlian.
“Absolutely not. If that’s the route that they want me to take then
I don’t believe they need me anymore,” Gaethje told ESPN. “I know that sounds petty or whatever. But I’m
No. 3 [in the UFC rankings]. I’m 3-1 in my last four. The champion
was calling to fight me, vacated. They bring a new guy in and give
a guy that’s 2-2 the fight. So if their algorithm and their math
tells them just to use me until I get beat then I’m gonna have to
really re-evaluate what I’m doing here.”
Justin
Gaethje is NOT interested in a fight with Paddy
Pimblett 😬“Absolutely not. If that’s the route they want me to take, I don’t
believe they need me anymore.”🎥 @espnmmapic.twitter.com/LEJOFdROdn
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
July 22, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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