Ali Abdelaziz: Justin Gaethje considering retirement if he doesn't get next UFC title shot
Ali Abdelaziz: Justin Gaethje considering retirement if he doesn't get next UFC title shot
Ali Abdelaziz says it's a UFC lightweight title shot or bust for Justin Gaethje.
When Islam Makhachev relinquished his 155-pound belt, Gaethje expected to be one half of the vacant title fight. Instead, the promotion opted to book Ilia Topuria against Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 headliner on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Abdelaziz says Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) stepped up big for the UFC on numerous occasions, and feels snubbed out of the title picture. So, if he's not next in line, he may consider taking drastic measures.
"Justin Gaethje fights the winner," Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. "He won three of his last four, he saved the UFC two times. They needed him and he's there. The guy did so much for the sport, and if anyone says he doesn't deserve it, and he said, '(If) I'm not going to fight for the title, I'm just going to hang up my gloves.' Justin is a very principled guy, and he really told me this yesterday.
"I was with him at the fights. He said, 'I'm not going to get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel that UFC has to love me back,' and he doesn't feel the love right now. At the end of the day, I think they love him, I think they will give him what he wanted. But at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia."
Gaethje positioned himself for a title shot after knocking out Dustin Poirier to claim the BMF title at UFC 291. Instead, he ended up defending his BMF title against Max Holloway in the UFC 300 main event, but lost the fight by knockout. He then stepped in on short notice to replace Dan Hooker against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March, and won the bout by unanimous decision.
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