Justin Gaethje is flirting with the thought of retiring

Justin Gaethje‘s time in the sport may be nearing its end.

Despite winning the UFC lightweight title last time out, for the first time since joining the promotion, Gaethje is considering retirement. He has done all there is to do in his career. As he weighs up his options, it comes down to hunger. There is nothing left for him to prove, but if the drive remains, his legacy is there to be strengthened. However, he has a division of hungry contenders waiting on his every move, and with his 38th birthday approaching, there’s one thing to remember: it’s a young man’s sport.

Rumors persist regarding Justin Gaethje’s first title defense. If an Ilia Topuria rematch doesn’t materialize, Arman Tsarukyan is the only viable option left. Aware of the Tsarukyan fight reports, Gaethje is still undecided on his future.

“Everyone’s like, ‘F***ing fight Arman.’ I don’t know what the f*** [I’m doing yet]. I have injuries; I have to take care of- I haven’t made a decision. But I am 37 years old. My first fight was 2008. I’ve had 40 fights. So, I don’t know. I don’t know. Who knows? I don’t need to.”

Justin Gaethje has been hinting at leaving the sport behind for some time. If he had failed in his pursuit of undisputed UFC gold last time out, there was a strong possibility that it would be the final time he would compete.

MMA moves fast, and fans want to know what he’s doing next. An answer that is sure to upset some, Gaethje suggested that his dreams away from the octagon are why his days inside it are numbered, saying:

“This has never been about money for me. It’s about health… I want kids.”

Gaethje continued.

“I do not feel like I have anything left to prove. My first fight was in ’08. I’m 37 years old. But I know that I also just performed better than I ever performed. So, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have my faculties. I want to keep my faculties. I have nothing left to prove. So, I don’t know.”

Check out what Justin Gaethje said about retiring in the video below.