Gaethje's UFC 250 upset sparks retirement and title speculation

Justin Gaethje's upset victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 has the MMA world asking whether he should walk away at the peak and, if he does, how the lightweight division sorts itself out.

MMA Mania's mailbag tackled both questions this week after Gaethje claimed the lightweight strap on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. Staffers agreed the logical title fight in the event of a Gaethje retirement would pit Arman Tsarukyan against Charles Oliveira in a rematch of their close bout at UFC 300.

Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira rematch tops wish list for vacant title

Jesse Holland told readers he would book Tsarukyan and Oliveira for the vacant belt, noting both sit at the top of the rankings and had a competitive first meeting. Alex Behunin echoed that sentiment, calling it the only real option. Tim Edwards floated chaos scenarios including Alex Volkanovski moving up or Islam Makhachev dropping back down to face Tsarukyan, adding that mayhem across three divisions "can be fun."

Edwards also said he hopes Gaethje does retire. "It would be the greatest UFC/MMA retirement ever, if he did that (so long as he doesn't spoil it by coming back)," he wrote in the mailbag response.

An MMA Mania poll running alongside the mailbag asked readers whether Gaethje should hang up the gloves after the White House moment, though no results were disclosed.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Mania Mailbag: Where does Gaethje’s upset rank all-time?