UFC Veteran Explains Why Justin Gaethje Shouldn’t Retire After Upsetting Ilia Topuria

A UFC veteran believes lightweight champion Justin Gaethje still has plenty left to offer, and shouldn't retire after his upset win over Ilia Topuria.

UFC Veteran Explains Why Justin Gaethje Shouldn’t Retire After Upsetting Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje as UFC Lightweight champion (via Imagn)

Justin Gaethje captured undisputed gold for the first time at UFC Freedom 250. ‘The Highlight’ upset Ilia Topuria in his third attempt at the undisputed belt, and it’s safe to say that this represents the peak of his career so far. As such, Gaethje has been urged by former UFC fighter Matt Brown to not hang up his gloves just yet.

At 37 years old, the American lightweight is the oldest fighter to win the belt at 155 lbs. He was a massive underdog heading into the White House card with his age and history of wars in the octagon being the primary reason for him being written off. However, the two-time interim champion managed to unify the lightweight titles as he dethroned ‘El Matador’, rendering him unable to continue after the fourth round.

Despite this unexpectedly brilliant performance from him, Gaethje was urged to bow out of the sport at the top by UFC legend, Georges St-Pierre. The Canadian phenom believes the UFC lightweight champion has nothing left to prove in the sport. However, St-Pierre has been contradicted by Brown who recently explained why the ‘Highlight’ had more to give to the sport.

No way! His value is higher now than ever before and he can change his legacy from most exciting fighter ever to one of the actual goats of lw with a good title defense streak. Retiring would be dumb right now he has nothing to lose going forward only to gain.

Matt Brown via X

The UFC veteran then opined on who should be Justin Gaethje’s next opponent. The undisputed champion has received several callouts from contenders like Charles Oliveira with the returning Conor McGregor also being open to fight him. However, Brown has floated by who he thinks will be the best matchup for the American lightweight.

Just to add to this, Arman [Tsarukyan] is a good matchup for him and lower risk in terms of cte/damage. He beats Arman (big if) then he gets set up to fight winner of Max/Conor. Too much money on the table to retire now.

Matt Brown via X

As the lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje does have his pick of challengers within the division. However, the 37-year-old has admitted that he does not plan on fighting again this year. That said, Gaethje did reveal whether he wanted to retire at the top like ‘GSP’ recently suggested.

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Justin Gaethje does not plan to retire as he reveals who his next fight won’t be against

Very few fighters have the privilege of retiring at the pinnacle of the sport as champions. In recent history, only Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, and Jon Jones retired at the top, and they are all in contention to be the greatest of all time. However, recently crowned lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has no intentions of joining this group after his UFC Freedom 250 win.

Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250
Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 (via X)

‘The Highlight’ told UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his podcast that he does not plan on retiring just yet. The former BMF titleholder revealed that he does not feel that the time is right for him to call it a day on his fighting career after having been a professional fighter since 2011. Gaethje also revealed that Ilia Topuria would not get a rematch like he had demanded in the first statement since his loss.

Right now I’m planning on [fighting again]. There’s not something natural in me that feels like it’s over. [Ilia] doesn’t get a rematch. He can try but he doesn’t get one. He quit on the stool, I stopped him twice, what else do I have to do? His next challenge can’t be me. He needs to fight Paddy or someone like that.

Justin Gaethje via the Joe Rogan Experience

So, it appears that not only is Justin Gaethje not planning on retiring anytime soon, he is also looking forward to the next challenge after his incredible upset victory at the White House. Ultimately, who he fights remains up in the air, but it is reassuring to know that the 37-year-old is not through fighting just yet.

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