Justin Gaethje remains steadfast on his claim to a lightweight title fight in his return, but the UFC seem to have different plans.
Shocking the community as a whole last month, former interim champion Gaethje brought his immediate fighting future in combat sports into question.
Furious to miss out on a lightweight title fight at UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in brutal fashion, Gaethje claimed he would consider retiring as a result.
Unhappy at being overlooked for a shot at gold, it seems that with recent UFC discussions, a shot at the belt is not in Gaethje’s immediate future. But rather, another massive test against a rising lightweight talent.
Mauricio Ruffy reveals UFC talks to take on Justin Gaethje next
Emerging as the next batch of lightweight talent, Fight Nerds staple, Ruffy, has boldly revealed this week that his biggest Octagon outing to date awaits him next.
Explaining how promotional brass broached a showdown with Arizona striker, Gaethje, next, Ruffy also revealed a potential fight with Michael Chandler could be on the horizon, too.
“They [UFC] offered me Justin Gaethje, but it was too last minute,” Ruffy told MMAMania recently. “I feel confident about what they’re offering me, I’m ready for the next one.
“Some good things are coming up for the fans,” Ruffy added. “For my last fight, they offered me a top five [opponent], what do you think they’re going to give me after the knockout I had?”
And that knockout in particular was one of the best so far this year. Taking on the veteran, King Green, Ruffy scored career stoppage number 11 with a huge, spinning wheel kick in their UFC 313 meeting.
Justin Gaethje sees another foe ruled from UFC 319 title eliminator
Catching wind of Gaethje’s plans to call time on his career, UFC boss Dana White bluntly encouraged the fan-favorite finisher to do just that. Particularly if he was upset over his status as a lightweight title challenger.
“If you’re thinking about retiring, you know how I feel about that: You should probably retire,” White said of Gaethje’s plans after UFC 317.
“We love Justin Gaethje, and Justin Gaethje did step up. And he’s been an exciting, fun fighter to have here in the UFC.
“But to say, ‘Listen, unless you give me a title shot I’m retiring,’ that’s pretty wacky.
For the time being at least, Gaethje looks set to avoid a showdown with Pimblett — who insisted he had no plans to fight as soon as UFC 319 this summer.
As for a pairing with Ruffy, however, that would present a potential changing of the guard for Gaethje, who would face a stern test against the Brazilian upstart.