Justin Gaethje to Retire if There’s no Title Shot

According to Justin Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, the third-ranked UFC fighter will announce his retirement if he is not given a shot at a title.

Gaethje looks to face off against the winner of UFC 317.

Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0) and former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) will fight for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317 on June 28 during the UFC’s annual International Fight Week. Islam Makhachev (27-1) vacated the title to move up to the welterweight division in an effort to become a two-division titleholder.

Ali Abdelaziz said, “Justin Gaethje fight the (UFC 317) winner. He’s won three of his last four. He saved the UFC two times. They needed him and he was there,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “The guy has done so much for the sport and if anyone says he doesn’t deserve it – He said, ‘If I’m not going to fight for the title then I’ll just hang up my gloves.’

Abdelaziz continued, “He’s a very principled guy,” Abdelaziz continued. “He really told me this yesterday. I was with him at the fight. He said, ‘If 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 like the UFC has to love me back.’ He doesn’t feel the love right now.”

At the end of the day, I think this guy, they love him. I think they will give him what he wanted,” he said. “But at the end of the day we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia.”

The last time Gaethje fought was in UFC 313, defeating Rafael Fiziev by unanimous decision.