Justin Gaethje News

Ilia Topuria UFC backstage
Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria claims lightweight plans will change if Justin Gaethje wins at UFC 324

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 14, 2025

Ilia Topuria has made quite the assertion about what a win for Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 would do. Gaethje is an underdog going into his interim UFC Lightweight Championship fight against Paddy Pimblett, which is scheduled for Jan. 24. The fight will headline UFC’s debut event on Paramount+. It’s a new era for UFC, as the top MMA promotion ditches pay-per-view.

Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje

UFC 324's Justin Gaethje explains why he won't accept Arman Tsarukyan's offer

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 12, 2025

Justin Gaethje will not be getting assistance from Arman Tsarukyan ahead of UFC 324. Gaethje is scheduled to clash with Paddy Pimblett on Jan. 24 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Ilia Topuria, who is the main titleholder at 155 pounds, is on hiatus dealing with a personal situation. This is why the UFC brass felt the need to create an interim title.

Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett

Justin Gaethje shares bold prediction for UFC 324 interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett

Cole Shelton - December 11, 2025

Justin Gaethje has a surprise prediction for his UFC 324 interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje is set to headline the first card of 2025, which will be the UFC’s debut on Paramount. It’s a highly anticipated fight, and Pimblett opened as the betting favorite. Although Gaethje is the underdog, he has confidence he won’t just win, but believes he can submit Pimblett.

Paddy Pimblett speaks at a UFC X fan expo, opposite Justin Gaethje in the cage at UFC 313
Paddy Pimblett

Justin Gaethje plans to play spoiler role against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324

Harry Kettle - December 6, 2025

UFC veteran Justin Gaethje is ready to play the role of spoiler in the main event of UFC 324 against Paddy Pimblett. For the longest time now, Justin Gaethje has been putting forward his case to compete for the UFC lightweight championship. He has been around the block and he has even held the interim gold before, but given where he’s at in his career, he is ready to make one final push for the undisputed title.

Charles Oliveira punches Justin Gaethje in their fight at UFC 274
Justin Gaethje

Charles Oliveira cautions Justin Gaethje to fix one big flaw ahead of Paddy Pimblett title clash

Curtis Calhoun - December 1, 2025

Justin Gaethje’s former rival Charles Oliveira believes his former foe has to patch up one significant weakness before UFC 324. Less than a year after Ilia Topuria’s lightweight title win, the UFC will put an interim belt on the line next month at UFC 324. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, who both made strong cases to face Topuria, will fight for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 amidst Topuria’s indefinite absence due to personal reasons.

Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, UFC 324, UFC
Paddy Pimblett

UFC 324: 'Gaethje vs. Pimblett' Fight Card and Rumors

Chris Taylor - November 28, 2025

The Octagon will take center stage at T-Mobile Arena on January 24th, with two title bouts set to headline the fight card. In the main event, the promotion‘s interim lightweight title will be up for grabs as Paddy Pimblett takes on Justin Gaethje. An interim belt was introduced after reigning champion Ilia Topuria revealed he needed extended time off to deal with some personal issues.

Paddy Pimblett and Joe Rogan UFC 314
Paddy Pimblett

UFC 324 headliner Paddy Pimblett predicts fan excuses for Justin Gaethje

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 28, 2025

Paddy Pimblett wouldn’t be surprised if fans discredit him should he emerge victorious at UFC 324. Pimblett has been put in a big spot for UFC’s debut on Paramount+. “The Baddy” will be facing Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship in the UFC 324 headliner on Jan. 24. Ilia Topuria is the main 155-pound champion, but he’s currently dealing with personal issues.

Paddy Pimblett speaks at a UFC X fan expo, opposite Justin Gaethje in the cage at UFC 313
Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett goes on X-rated rant against Justin Gaethje's title shot holdout

Curtis Calhoun - November 19, 2025

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett didn’t hold back on Justin Gaethje amidst the former BMF titleholder’s holdout. The UFC lightweight title picture is filled with big names and big questions, including who will face newly-crowned champion Ilia Topuria for his first title defense. Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earlier this year to become the latest two-division titleholder in the promotion’s history.

Justin Gaethje UFC walkout
UFC

Justin Gaethje is serious about MMA retirement threat, says manager

Harry Kettle - November 3, 2025

Ali Abdelaziz has said that Justin Gaethje is serious about retiring from mixed martial arts if he doesn’t get a UFC title shot. Justin Gaethje has made it crystal clear that he wants to compete for the UFC lightweight championship one more time. He’s already challenged for the undisputed gold on two separate occasions, falling short at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. This time around, however, he’s ready to put something else on the line – his entire mixed martial arts career.

Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker explains why he preferred Arman Tsarukyan fight over Justin Gaethje

Cole Shelton - October 30, 2025

Dan Hooker is glad he’s now fighting Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar. Hooker was supposed to fight Justin Gaethje back in March, but an injury knocked him out of the fight. He will now take on Tsarukyan on Nov. 22 in the main event of UFC Qatar in a pivotal fight at lightweight.

Justin Gaethje speaks at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, opposite Paddy Pimblett in the Octagon at UFC 314
Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje responds to Paddy Pimblett's recent Ilia Topuria callouts as he makes his case for White House title shot

Curtis Calhoun - October 24, 2025

UFC star Justin Gaethje shared a pointed message in response to Paddy Pimblett’s recent claims surrounding an offer on the table to fight Ilia Topuria. Justin Gaethje remains insistent that he’s the most deserving challenger for UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s first title defense in 2026. Gaethje, who hasn’t fought since a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, has repeatedly drawn a line in the sand surrounding his Octagon return.

Justin Gaethje
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Justin Gaethje gets honest about UFC 254 defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov

Harry Kettle - October 21, 2025

Justin Gaethje has opened up on his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 254. Right now, Justin Gaethje is waiting his opportunity to compete for the UFC lightweight championship once again. While it certainly seems like he’s the next man in line to face Ilia Topuria, it’s certainly not guaranteed – which is probably why we haven’t heard an official announcement from the UFC just yet.

Justin Gaethje UFC walkout
Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje earned title shot against Ilia Topuria, says veteran UFC personality

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 21, 2025

A longtime member of the UFC roster believes Justin Gaethje has earned the right to challenge Ilia Topuria. Topuria is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion. Fight fans have been waiting to see who will be “El Matador’s” first contender at 155 pounds after he starched Charles Oliveira in their late June clash.

Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria may opt to wrestle Justin Gaethje, says Ali Abdelaziz

Harry Kettle - September 2, 2025

Ali Abdelaziz believes that Ilia Topuria may decide to wrestle Justin Gaethje if they were to fight one another. Right now, Ilia Topuria is the biggest star in the world of mixed martial arts – and that doesn’t feel like a very controversial thing to say. He has done some incredible things throughout the course of his time in the sport and as we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like he’s on his way to becoming something special.

Arman Tsarukyan UFC press conference
Justin Gaethje

Arman Tsarukyan dismisses Justin Gaethje's UFC title demand

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 31, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan does not believe Justin Gaethje has earned another UFC title fight. Gaethje has been adamant about receiving the next crack at the UFC Lightweight Championship. He’s even threatened retirement if he isn’t next in line for a shot at the 155-pound gold. UFC CEO Dana White has said that while he respects Gaethje, he doesn’t appreciate the demands.

Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria
Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje 'gets mopped' by Ilia Topuria, says former UFC fan favorite

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 28, 2025

One ex-UFC veteran isn’t sold on Justin Gaethje’s chances in a potential clash with Ilia Topuria. Gaethje has been adamant about receiving the next crack at lightweight gold. UFC CEO Dana White isn’t exactly thrilled that “The Highlight” is threatening to retire if he doesn’t receive the next title shot at 155 pounds. The UFC also isn’t short on potential challengers for “El Matador” with the likes of Arman Tsarukyan, Max Holloway, and Paddy Pimblett waiting in the wings.

Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett

Justin Gaethje won't be happy with fighting Paddy Pimblett instead of Ilia Topuria

Harry Kettle - July 23, 2025

UFC star Justin Gaethje has admitted he wouldn’t be happy if he were given Paddy Pimblett instead of a UFC lightweight title shot. As we know, Justin Gaethje isn’t particularly happy right now. In the wake of his recent win over Rafael Fiziev, ‘The Highlight’ has made it crystal clear that he wants to be given a UFC lightweight championship opportunity. Unfortunately, he appears to be at something of a stalemate with the promotion.

Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje hopeful for Ilia Topuria fight at MSG: "I would love to knock him out"

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2025

Justin Gaethje is hoping he will face Ilia Topuria at Madison Square Garden later this year. Topuria became the UFC’s lightweight champion with a first-round KO win over Charles Oliveira. After his win, it wasn’t clear who Topuria’s first title defense would be against, as Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and Paddy Pimblett could all get the next title shot.