In a revealing interview on Submission Radio, renowned MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz dropped a bombshell regarding the future of UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje. According to Abdelaziz, Gaethje feels so disrespected by being overlooked for a title shot that he is prepared to retire from the sport if he doesn’t receive the opportunity.
“Justin Gaethje fight the winner. He won three of his last four. He saved the UFC two times,” Abdelaziz stated during the interview. “The guy did so much for the sport and if anyone said he doesn’t deserve it and he said I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just going to hang up my gloves.”
Abdelaziz went on to reveal that this isn’t just idle talk from Gaethje, emphasizing that the fighter communicated these intentions to him directly.
“Sean is a very principled guy and he really told me this yesterday. I was with him at the fight. He said, ‘I’m not going to get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter. I love the UFC but I feel the UFC have to love me back.’ He doesn’t feel the love right now,” Abdelaziz explained.
The current lightweight title picture has Arman Tsarukyan expected to face the winner of the upcoming championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier, leaving Gaethje – who has established himself as one of the division’s most exciting fighters – on the outside looking in.
Gaethje is coming off a 3-1 run in his last four fights, with his only loss in that stretch coming against former champion Charles Oliveira. His most recent victory was a spectacular head kick knockout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 to capture the symbolic BMF title.
Abdelaziz believes that Gaethje’s contributions to the company, including stepping up on short notice multiple times, should earn him consideration for a title opportunity. However, with the current championship picture unclear and Gaethje feeling undervalued, the future remains uncertain for one of the UFC’s most beloved action fighters.
“But at the end of the day, like we have to see what happened first between Charles and Ilia,” Abdelaziz concluded, referring to the upcoming bout between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria.
For now, fans will have to wait and see if the UFC decides to grant Gaethje the title shot he desires or if the lightweight division will lose one of its most exciting competitors to retirement.
