Justin Gaethje Demands Title Shot from ‘Begging’ UFC After Max Holloway Favor

Justin Gaethje says the UFC "owes" him a third UFC 155-pound championship crack and he's done fighting for fun barnburners.

Justin Gaethje Demands Title Shot from ‘Begging’ UFC After Max Holloway Favor

Justin Gaethje issues statement regarding title contention snub following recent ultimatum (Source: X)

Justin Gaethje is 0-2 in undisputed title fights, dropping the stakes to the gold against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. But never be it said the Human “Highlight” has lost his spark to get back to it. Oliveira matches up with Ilia Topuria in the IFW Festivity PPV main event at UFC 317 for the vacant 155-pound gold, and Gaethje wants in on the equation.

#4-ranked Justin Gaethje had the blessing from the previous champ’s team for a title track; he was, however, passed up for Topuria’s starpower and “Do Bronxs” having his promise of UFC 155-pound top seed treatment for long. Coach and ESPN Fight-Panel desk analyst Din Thomas thinks it’s cause of the optics of his horrendous faltinning KO against Max Holloway at UFC 300.

No. 1 ranked UFC 155-pounder on the Athletes’ Listings, Arman Tsarukyan, is much of the same opinion on why he deserves it more. However, Justin Gaethje recently presented that UFC execs and brass owe him a title shot as he answered the call for the milestone UFC 300 Pay-per-view card:

I don’t plan on ever fighting anywhere else, …But I’m also not gonna fight for fun anymore. They owe me a championship fight…I’m 3-1 last four. [UFC]…They came to my house, begged me to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300. I consider it an exhibition, but I don’t mean that the loss is not on my record. I mean it had nothing to do with the rankings.

Justin Gaethje on The Makeshift Podcast (@Makeshift_Project) #136

The former UFC interim lightweight Champ and “BMF” iterated the example of Dustin Poirier, whom he dropped for the silver strap. Poirier racked up a win at the UFC 299 PPV card in Miami against Benoit Saint-Denis that warranted him a title shot next June. He also poked how Oliveira is 2-2 in his last few outings, but it’s him and a ‘new guy’ contending for the vacant belt.

While the BMF strap was contested at 155 pounds the last time, Gaethje knows it should not boost or barrage his divisional rankings on the Athletes’ Listings. If anything, it also should just put him in a bigger template of good grace, given UFC 300 matchmaking was a hectic one without top stars Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. Gaethje was one of the warrior-esque fighters on the main card who answered the call.

Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently rung some MMA bells, saying he won’t fight if not for gold. Highlight thus doubled down, saying he deserves the crack after the thrilling near-finish of Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 PPV.

Rebook Dan Hooker fight? It’s a 155-pound title fight or nothing for aspirant Justin Gaethe now

Justin Gaethje is keen on a top contender guarantee that he’ll fight the winner of Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira. With 14 ballot fights under the banner, Gaethje is a 9X ‘FOTN’ post-fight bonus winner and close to banking $1M in performance bonuses itself. He defeated consensus best boxer Poirier, ended Tony Ferguson’s 12-fight streak, and was part of Nurmagomedov’s retirement fight.

Justin Gaethje wants to fight the UFC lightweight champ next
Justin Gaethje wants to fight the UFC lightweight champ next (Source: X)

Safe to say, he is an interesting bet when it comes to fights. The UFC 313 PPV offering in March ran the risk of being a one-hit pony in the lineup. That too would not have fared well given the upset and change in guard. Dan Hooker dropped out of a farely interesting matchup with Gaethje, and the latter agreed to a quick Fiziev fight.

However, it did not win him the cred for a title shot against a star name like Topuria, whom he has respected so far. So, he’d rather wait for a title shot next rather than barnburner scrappers.

I’m not going fight any of these motherfu*kers for fun, unless they pay me so much more money — I’m gonna take a risky fight, and if I lose, I’m gonna be set up [money-wise]. If I win, I’m fighting for a belt. Or I’m not doing it…I’m the most consistent guy [of] anybody that’s ever performed for their company, …And being as consistent of an employee for their company [should] get a Christmas bonus…

Justin Gaethje further said

At 36, Justin Gaethje is one bad buzzer-beater KO away from ending up on the wrong side of history. Hence, the Elevation Fight Team product wants to solidify his legacy in the bigger picture. For now, to Gaethje, that’s gunning and getting the lightweight gold.

Also Read: