Justin Gaethje will not be a contented camper.
The onetime UFC interim light-weight champion feels his current win over Rafael Fiziev of their rematch at UFC 313 in March ought to have secured him a title battle in opposition to then-champ Islam Makhachev. As a substitute, Makhachev vacated the title for a transfer to welterweight, and now former featherweight king Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira to crown a brand new 155-pound champion in the primary occasion of UFC 317 on June 28.
Gaethje’s win over Fiziev marked a profitable return to the cage following a vicious knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024—a bout Gaethje considers extra of a present for the followers and the UFC than one with official divisional stakes. The present decision-making has left Gaethje fairly aggravated.
“They owe me a championship battle,” Gaethje stated on The Makeshift Podcast. “I’m 3-1 in my final 4. They got here to my home begging me to battle Max Holloway at UFC 300. I take into account that an exhibition battle.
“I don’t imply that the loss will not be on my document, it had nothing to do with the rankings in my [division at the time]. Within the time that I did that, Dustin Poirier, who I had simply beat, acquired a very good win over [Benoit] Saint Denis after which fought for the belt.
“Since [I beat Fiziev], [Makhachev] had been saying he needs to battle me. They might’ve simply set that up, however they didn’t. Then he vacates, after which Oliveira is 2-2 in his final [four fights], already has a loss to Makhachev, and so they convey a model new man in. And I get f*cked once more.
“So I’m not going to battle any of those motherf*ckers for enjoyable except they pay me a lot more cash. … If I’m going to take a dangerous battle, if I lose, I’m going to be arrange [financially], and if I win, I’m preventing for a belt — or I’m not doing it.”
Gaethje has competed for undisputed UFC gold on two totally different events, and was stopped each instances by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Oliveira. “The Spotlight” is without doubt one of the most action-packed fighters in UFC historical past and a real fan favourite that leaves all of it on the road each time he steps foot within the octagon.
For now, he’ll watch Topuria and Oliveira battle for the vacant title, and hope he will get his likelihood, or be closely compensated for a contender battle. Both approach, Gaethje needs guarantees and respect earlier than placing on one other present within the cage.
“I’m essentially the most constant man,” Gaethje defined. “I believe anyone that’s ever carried out for his or her firm, and has been a constant worker for his or her firm will get a Christmas bonus, will get a thanks, will get a ‘Good f*cking job.’
“Nah, I’m finished doing shit right here. I really like preventing for the UFC. I’d by no means wish to battle some other place, however I’m not going to only throw my legacy away for anyone, actually.”
