TLDR
- Justin Gaethje is uncertain if he’ll fight again despite winning the UFC lightweight title in June
- Gaethje says Ilia Topuria is too small for lightweight and should return to featherweight
- The 37-year-old champion has serious injuries including a knee bruise and damaged hands
- Gaethje acknowledges Arman Tsarukyan deserves the next title shot if he continues fighting
- The champion wants to enjoy the rest of the year before making a decision about his career
Sources: mmafighting.com | sherdog.com
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje says he may never fight again, despite capturing the title just three months ago. The 37-year-old fighter is dealing with serious injuries and questioning whether he wants to continue his combat sports career.
Gaethje won the lightweight championship in June at UFC Freedom 250, stopping Ilia Topuria in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. The victory marked Topuria’s first career loss and gave Gaethje his first UFC title.
Speaking on the FLAGRANT podcast, Gaethje dismissed recent accusations from Topuria, who claimed the champion had loaded his gloves before their fight. Instead, Gaethje offered a different explanation for his victory.
“He honestly has to believe that I cheated, because if not, how could you do it again? I broke his face,” Gaethje said.
Justin Gaethje says he doesn’t know if he’ll ever fight again 👀
“I do not feel like I have anything left to prove. I’m 37 years old. Everyone’s saying to fight Arman Tsarukyan. I haven’t made a decision. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
(via @andrewschulz) pic.twitter.com/IBqwmvSozC
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 23, 2026
Topuria Too Small for Lightweight Division
Gaethje believes Topuria should return to featherweight, where he previously won and defended the UFC title before moving up to 155 pounds. Topuria had knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight championship before losing to Gaethje.
“I don’t think he’s a lightweight. I think he should go down,” Gaethje said. “I think he can beat [Alexander] Volkanovski and be champion at featherweight. I don’t think he’ll ever be champion at lightweight.”
The champion added that Topuria would struggle against other top lightweights. “He can’t beat Arman [Tsarukyan]. He’s going to have a difficult time with Paddy [Pimblett],” Gaethje said.
Gaethje acknowledged that while Topuria is skilled, he’s undersized for the 155-pound division. That size difference, not any cheating, explains the outcome of their fight, according to the champion.
Injuries and Uncertainty About Future
The champion revealed he’s dealing with serious injuries from his recent fights. Gaethje fought twice in 2026, winning an interim title against Paddy Pimblett in January before defeating Topuria in June.
“I have a deep bruise in my knee. Still can’t punch with my hand,” Gaethje said. “We’re three months removed from my last fight.”
Gaethje has been fighting since 2008 and has compiled 40 fights between his professional and amateur career. At 37 years old, he’s considering whether the physical toll is worth continuing.
“I don’t feel like I have anything left to prove,” Gaethje said. “My first fight was in ’08. I’m 37 years old. But I know that I also just performed better than I’ve ever performed, so I’m stuck in between a rock and a hard place.”
The champion said his career has never been about money but about maintaining his health. He wants to preserve his mental faculties and quality of life after fighting.
Gaethje mentioned that beating Topuria gave him closure on his previous losses to Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway. Since Topuria had knocked out both men, Gaethje feels satisfied making Topuria quit.
If Gaethje does continue fighting, he knows who deserves the next shot. Arman Tsarukyan recently knocked out Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, strengthening his case for a title fight.
“It’s not that I don’t want to fight Arman; it really isn’t. He’s the next in line,” Gaethje said. “If and when I defend this championship, that will be who I fight. I just don’t know right now.”
Gaethje said he needs to recover and rest his brain after the intense training camps for his two 2026 fights. He plans to enjoy being champion for the rest of the year before making any decisions about his future.
