UFC star explains why Justin Gaethje should fight Ilia Topuria instead of Paddy Pimblett
Justin Gaethje’s refusal to fight anyone besides Ilia Topuria could pay off.
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion and BMF titleholder is still a top player at 155 lbs nearly a decade after he debuted in the top 5.
Ranked #3 in the lightweight division and winner of three out of his last four fights, Gaethje was upset he didn’t get the title fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, with the title shot going to Charles Oliveira instead.
Gaethje has said the UFC ‘owes’ him a title fight and threatened to retire if he’s not given the champion Topuria. UFC CEO Dana White called Gaethje’s title fight ultimatum ‘whacky’, telling him to retire afterward.
When it comes to Topuria’s first title defense, Justin Gaethje is hardly the UFC’s only option as Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett are also in the title mix. Pimblett faced off with Topuria post-fight and Tsarukyan ‘righted his wrong’ by weighing in as the back-up fighter for the UFC 317 headliner.
However, one of Gaethje’s fellow lightweights stands behind ‘The Highlight’ getting the next title fight.
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‘Makes the UFC the most money’ … Dan Hooker says Justin Gaethje ‘moves the needle’ against Ilia Topuria
While Liverpool’s Pimblett is a massive star in the UK and has a storyline with Topuria, #7 UFC Lightweight Dan Hooker says it might make more financial sense for Gaethje to fight the champion next.
Gaethje is arguably the UFC’s most exciting fighter and the knockout artist is one KO away from $1M in performance bonuses. Gaethje’s heavy leg kicks have been touted as a potential problem for a boxer like Topuria.
“I think they’ll do Gaethje,” Hooker said of Topuria’s next fight on Submission Radio.
“I think they wanna do Gaethje [vs] Paddy, but apparently, Gaethje’s not gonna take the Paddy fight,” Hooker said of the UFC’s matchmaking.
“It just leaves, like, Paddy or Gaethje.
“The only pay-per-view sales that really count are in the North American market. And so it’s like, even though Paddy’s, like, this big star on Instagram and s—, I don’t know if he actually really moves the needle in North America,” Hooker said of Pimblett.
“For sure, Justin Gaethje moves the needle in North America.
“So, I think that he probably makes the UFC the most money by being champion,” Hooker said of Gaethje.
Justin Gaethje: ‘Not my fault Dan Hooker dropped out’
Gaethje and Hooker were initially scheduled for a five-round war earlier this year at UFC 313.
The potential title eliminator was ultimately cancelled due to reasons out of Gaethje’s control, as Hooker withdrew from the fight with a broken hand.
Gaethje stayed on the card and fought short-notice replacement Rafael Fiziev, beating the top contender by decision for a second time in March.
Gaethje has been waiting on the UFC to give him a title opportunity ever since.
“I’m the most consistent guy,” Gaethje said of why he should get the next title fight on The Makeshift Podcast.
“I think anybody that’s ever performed for their company and been as consistent as an employee for their company gets a Christmas bonus, gets a thank you, gets a good f—— job, like, nah, I’m done doing s— here…
“I love fighting for the UFC, I never want to fight somewhere else, but I’m not gonna just throw my legacy away for anybody.
“I’m waiting for them to announce it,” Gaethje said of potentially getting his third undisputed title shot.
“[Oliveira] is 2-2, I’m 3-1. I mean, what do you want me to do? Not my fault [Dan] Hooker dropped out…”
