Justin Gaethje sends clear message regarding retirement from UFC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Following his stunning TKO victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to win the undisputed Lightweight Championship, Justin Gaethje was non-committal regarding retirement and his fighting future.
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A week later, it appears as though he has some clarity.
Justin Gaethje plans to fight again, not ready to retire from UFC
During an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Gaethje revealed that he isn’t ready to retire and plans to fight again.
“Right now, I’m planning on it [fighting again],” Gaethje said. “There’s not something natural in me that feels like it’s over.”
This is obviously great news for Gaethje fans, and fight fans in general, as Gaethje is routinely involved in the most exciting fights in the business.
Now that he’s ruled out retirement for the time being, Gaethje can begin to look forward. When it comes to his first title defense he doesn’t have a specific name in mind, but he’s made it clear that he isn’t interested in a rematch with Topuria.
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“He doesn’t get a rematch. He can try, but he doesn’t get one,” Gaethje said. “He quit on the stool. He quit twice. I stopped him twice. What else do I have to f—ing do? His next challenge can’t be me. He needs to fight Paddy [Pimblett] or someone like that.”
Since he just fought earlier this month, we might have to wait a while to see Gaethje in the octagon again, but at least we have another fight from The Highlight to look forward to in the future.
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