Justin Gaethje has no intention of riding off into the sunset just yet. The newly crowned UFC lightweight champion told Joe Rogan in a taped interview released on Saturday that he is firmly “planning” to fight again, cooling any retirement speculation before it could catch fire. “There’s not something natural in me that feels like it’s over,” Gaethje said bluntly.
Justin Gaethje Plans to Fight Again — But Not Against Topuria
Gaethje claimed his first undisputed UFC lightweight title just last week, outslugging Ilia Topuria across four brutal rounds in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. Topuria quit on his stool between rounds, handing Gaethje one of the most satisfying victories of his career. However, despite the dramatic nature of the contest, Gaethje made clear that a rematch is completely off the table. “He quit on the stool. He quit twice. I stopped him twice. What else do I have to f—ing do?” Gaethje said. He suggested Topuria should instead pursue the likes of Paddy Pimblett before even thinking about another shot at the belt.
As for what comes next, Gaethje admitted he has no specific opponent in mind. Arman Tsarukyan, ranked third in the lightweight division behind Gaethje and Topuria, earned no particular mention. “I can’t say that I have a name,” Gaethje said simply.
A Stacked Division Full of Dangerous Options
Nevertheless, the lightweight picture is anything but short of intrigue. Former champion Charles Oliveira sits at number four at 155 pounds with no fight booked for the rest of 2026, making him a credible target. Meanwhile, Maurício Ruffy cemented his contender credentials at the same White House card, stopping Michael Chandler inside one round to announce himself as a genuine threat at number seven in the rankings. According to the official UFC rankings, the division is teeming with talent Gaethje could call upon.
Beyond that, there is the unmistakable elephant in the room. Former two-division champion Conor McGregor and ex-featherweight king Max Holloway meet at welterweight — 170 pounds — at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 11th July. The winner of that bout could well land in Gaethje’s crosshairs next. McGregor and Gaethje have never shared the Octagon, and that fight alone would send the MMA world into a frenzy.
Equally compelling is the Holloway angle. At UFC 300 in 2024, Holloway knocked out Gaethje with just one second remaining to claim the BMF title, after the pair traded shots in the centre of the cage during the final ten seconds. That is precisely the sort of unfinished business that tends to keep fighters coming back. If Gaethje’s plans hold firm, revenge could very well be on the menu.
