TLDR
- Demetrious Johnson urges Justin Gaethje to retire after winning UFC lightweight championship at UFC Freedom 250
- Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria via fourth-round TKO, giving Topuria his first career loss
- Johnson says Gaethje has accomplished everything in MMA and should prioritize brain health
- Gaethje, 37, has not decided whether he will continue fighting or retire
- Potential future opponents include Topuria rematch, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, or Max Holloway
Sources: Heavy | MMA News | FanNation MMA Analysis (Sports Illustrated Network) | Aggregated MMA News Digest
UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson believes Justin Gaethje should retire immediately after winning the lightweight championship at UFC Freedom 250. Johnson says Gaethje has accomplished everything possible in mixed martial arts and should prioritize his health over continuing to fight.
Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria via fourth-round TKO on the White House lawn last Sunday night. The victory gave the 37-year-old his first undisputed UFC championship after previous failed attempts against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
The win also handed Topuria the first loss of his MMA career. Gaethje entered the fight as a sizeable underdog but dominated the bout, forcing Topuria’s corner to stop the fight between rounds four and five.
Johnson Makes His Case on YouTube
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Johnson explained why he thinks Gaethje should walk away now. “There is nothing left for Justin Gaethje to do,” Johnson said, according to MMA Junkie.
Demetrious Johnson backs Ilia Topuria to bounce back after joining the list of great fighters who have lost.
"Every great athlete loses. GSP lost, I've gotten knocked out, Jon Jones lost. All the greats have lost. We've all lost, and that doesn't mean Ilia Topuria can't come… pic.twitter.com/32xBB8vHLR
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) June 15, 2026
“World Series of Fighting champion, he’s made so much money in mixed martial arts,” Johnson continued. “He probably double bonused tonight, and I think the bonuses were $485,000.”
Johnson pointed to Gaethje’s complete resume as proof he has nothing left to prove. Gaethje has held both interim and undisputed UFC titles, along with his previous championship in the World Series of Fighting promotion.
“You guys might hate me for this, but the best thing Justin Gaethje can do is retire,” Johnson said. “He should retire on this amazing victory against a legend like Ilia Topuria.”
Johnson emphasized the health risks of continuing to fight. “You retire on top, you save your brain cells, you ride off into the sunset,” he said.
“You beat one of the best athletes, you gave him his first defeat,” Johnson added. “Ride away with the White House belt and the undisputed lightweight championship belt.”
Gaethje has won three straight fights heading into the Topuria matchup. He defeated Rafael Fiziev, Paddy Pimblett, and then Topuria in succession, looking sharp in all three performances.
What Comes Next for Gaethje
Gaethje has not announced his decision about whether he will continue fighting. UFC president Dana White has previously said he does not believe fighters who have doubts should continue competing.
If Gaethje decides to fight again, several options exist. An immediate rematch with Topuria remains possible given the magnitude of the first fight and Topuria’s undefeated record before the loss.
Gaethje could also face top contender Arman Tsarukyan, who has been waiting for his first lightweight title shot. Tsarukyan was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev for the belt last year but pulled out due to a weigh-in day injury.
Another option would be a rematch with Charles Oliveira. Oliveira submitted Gaethje in their 2022 title bout at UFC 274.
Max Holloway also presents an intriguing matchup. Holloway knocked out Gaethje with a last-second strike at UFC 300 to win the BMF title, though Holloway later lost that belt to Oliveira.
Holloway is currently scheduled to welcome Conor McGregor back to the UFC next month at UFC 329. The outcome of that fight could influence potential matchups for Gaethje if he chooses to continue his career.
Gaethje looked impressive against Topuria despite being 37 years old. Many observers believe he is peaking late in his career based on his recent three-fight winning streak.
