Justin Gaethje is officially calling the shots. Following a monumental upset victory over the previously undefeated Ilia Topuria at the historic UFC White House card to claim the undisputed lightweight championship, Gaethje finds himself in unfamiliar territory: the hunted instead of the hunter.
Speaking with Paramount+, the newly crowned champion opened up about his future plans, why he’s taking his time to heal from hand injuries, and who he wants to step into the octagon with next.
Closing the Book on Past Rivals
When asked about running it back with former foes, Gaethje dismissed the idea of avenging his previous losses to Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, despite both stars lingering near the top of the division.
Using some classic MMA math to justify moving on, Gaethje quipped, “It would have been Oliveira or Holloway, but since Topuria beat them, I’m going to go ahead and justify it to myself like I got them back.”
Instead, a different high-profile name caught his attention: Conor McGregor. McGregor is currently sidelined recovering from a major knee injury suffered just 19 seconds into his return fight against Holloway at UFC 329 this past July. For Gaethje, the appeal of a fight against the Irishman isn’t about rankings—it’s personal.
“So I guess McGregor,” Gaethje said. “Fun to shut him up.”
Navigating the Title Picture
After capturing the interim lightweight title twice and the “BMF” belt, third time proved to be the charm for Gaethje in his quest for undisputed gold. Now, adjusting to life at the top of the division requires a different mindset.
“There’s always been a champion, I’ve always had somebody to chase,” Gaethje explained. “Now, being the champion, it’s like I just have to retain and hold onto what I have. I’m not looking at specific opponents, I know the best in the world are gunning for me.”
The title landscape is continuing to take shape underneath him. Arman Tsarukyan is set to face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19, with a potential title shot hanging in the balance as Tsarukyan eyes the lightweight throne.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Fans hoping for an immediate defense will have to wait. Due to hand injuries sustained during his grueling battle with Topuria, Gaethje’s next walk to the octagon won’t happen until 2027, giving the division plenty of time to sort itself out in his absence.
As for how much longer he plans to fight, the veteran champion remains non-committal about retirement, choosing to lean on his inner circle when the time comes to hang up the gloves.
“I have no idea. How many I have left? I have no idea,” Gaethje said. “It’s been one at a time since Day 1. I’m going to continue to take it like that and trust in my team to have a conversation with me when they need to.”
