Justin Gaethje may be nearing the end of his MMA career. The American faces Paddy Pimblett in the main event of UFC 324, scheduled for January 24th, an event that marks the beginning of the billion-dollar partnership between the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Paramount International. Beyond the historical significance of the card, Gaethje has the chance to win the interim title for the second time in his career, but the fight could also represent his farewell to the octagon.
According to his coach, Trevor Wittman, the fight is considered crucial for the fighter's future. If the result is not positive, the team does not intend to continue solely in pursuit of financially advantageous fights. The priority, according to him, becomes Gaethje's health and his presence alongside his family, factors that weigh increasingly heavily at this stage of his career.
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“This is our last chance. If we don’t win this fight, we’re not going to continue. We’re not going to stay around just to save money for fights. He knows he needs to be there for his family and take care of his health,” Trevor Wittman said in an interview with ESPN MMA.
Justin Gaethje's history in UFC title fights
J. Gaethje, champion, was previously the interim lightweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
After stringing together three consecutive first-round knockout victories, Justin Gaethje received the chance to fight for the interim title against Tony Ferguson . On that occasion, the American emerged victorious and won the title. However, the outcome was different in his attempt to unify the belt against the undisputed champion Khabib Nurmagomedov , when he was submitted by the Russian in the second round.
Gaethje had another opportunity to win the undisputed title when he faced Charles Oliveira . Despite coming close to victory, the American was ultimately finished by the Brazilian in the first round.
In addition to his lightweight title fights, Gaethje also made headlines in the BMF title race. He knocked out Dustin Poirier and was crowned the toughest fighter in the UFC, but ended up losing by knockout in his next fight when trying to defend the title against Max Holloway.
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