Justin Gaethje’s refusal to battle anybody in addition to Ilia Topuria might repay.
The previous UFC Interim Light-weight Champion and BMF titleholder continues to be a prime participant at 155 lbs practically a decade after he debuted within the prime 5.
Ranked #3 within the light-weight division and winner of three out of his final 4 fights, Gaethje was upset he didn’t get the title battle towards Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, with the title shot going to Charles Oliveira instead.
Gaethje has said the UFC ‘owes’ him a title fight and threatened to retire if he’s not given the champion Topuria. UFC CEO Dana White called Gaethje’s title fight ultimatum ‘whacky’, telling him to retire afterward.
On the subject of Topuria’s first title protection, Justin Gaethje is hardly the UFC’s solely possibility as Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett are additionally within the title combine. Pimblett faced off with Topuria post-fight and Tsarukyan ‘righted his wrong’ by weighing in as the back-up fighter for the UFC 317 headliner.
Nonetheless, one in every of Gaethje’s fellow lightweights stands behind ‘The Spotlight’ getting the following title battle.
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‘Makes the UFC essentially the most cash’ … Dan Hooker says Justin Gaethje ‘strikes the needle’ towards Ilia Topuria
Whereas Liverpool’s Pimblett is an enormous star within the UK and has a storyline with Topuria, #7 UFC Light-weight Dan Hooker says it’d make extra monetary sense for Gaethje to battle the champion subsequent.
Gaethje is arguably the UFC’s most exciting fighter and the knockout artist is one KO away from $1M in efficiency bonuses. Gaethje’s heavy leg kicks have been touted as a potential problem for a boxer like Topuria.
“I feel they’ll do Gaethje,” Hooker stated of Topuria’s subsequent battle on Submission Radio.
“I feel they wanna do Gaethje [vs] Paddy, however apparently, Gaethje’s not gonna take the Paddy battle,” Hooker stated of the UFC’s matchmaking.
“It simply leaves, like, Paddy or Gaethje.
“The one pay-per-view gross sales that actually depend are within the North American market. And so it’s like, although Paddy’s, like, this large star on Instagram and s—, I don’t know if he really actually strikes the needle in North America,” Hooker stated of Pimblett.
“For positive, Justin Gaethje strikes the needle in North America.
“So, I feel that he most likely makes the UFC essentially the most cash by being champion,” Hooker stated of Gaethje.
Justin Gaethje: ‘Not my fault Dan Hooker dropped out’
Gaethje and Hooker had been initially scheduled for a five-round battle earlier this yr at UFC 313.
The potential title eliminator was finally cancelled as a result of causes out of Gaethje’s management, as Hooker withdrew from the fight with a broken hand.
Gaethje stayed on the cardboard and fought short-notice alternative Rafael Fiziev, beating the top contender by decision for a second time in March.
Gaethje has been ready on the UFC to provide him a title alternative ever since.
“I’m essentially the most constant man,” Gaethje stated of why he ought to get the following title battle on The Makeshift Podcast.
“I feel anyone that’s ever carried out for his or her firm and been as constant as an worker for his or her firm will get a Christmas bonus, will get a thanks, will get f—— job, like, nah, I’m completed doing s— right here…
“I really like combating for the UFC, I by no means need to battle some place else, however I’m not gonna simply throw my legacy away for anyone.
“I’m ready for them to announce it,” Gaethje stated of probably getting his third undisputed title shot.
“[Oliveira] is 2-2, I’m 3-1. I imply, what would you like me to do? Not my fault [Dan] Hooker dropped out…”
