Justin Gaethje’s fighting future is uncertain. That’s an unusual statement to make about an active UFC champion, but it makes sense in the case of “The Highlight.” Gaethje has always been upfront about the fact that he doesn’t intend to…

UFC champion Justin Gaethje is contemplating retirement as calls mount for him to defend his lightweight title against contender Arman Tsarukyan. Speaking on Andrew Schulz's platform, the 37-year-old fighter stated that preserving his long-term health and faculties takes priority over financial incentives after competing in 40 bouts since 2008.
Gaethje confirmed he must address existing injuries and has ruled out competing for the remainder of 2026. While acknowledging potential high-profile matchups against Tsarukyan or Ilia Topuria, Gaethje stated he plans to enjoy his championship status before finalizing a decision on his fighting future.
Carlos Prates calls Islam Makhachev a coward and promises to retire him, after the champion’s absence turns UFC 336 into an interim title fightMixed Martial Arts
‘A good problem’… Dana White reveals 2 fighters are in contention to face Petr Yan nextBloodyelbow
UFC returns to Dallas for Fight Night eventYahoo
Alexander Volkanovski pushes for lightweight title shot: ‘I think I’ve earned it’MMA Mania
To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.