Justin Gaethje has opened up about retirement talk as he prepares for one of the biggest fights of his career.
The former interim lightweight champion headlines UFC 324 on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he faces Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title. Despite his experience, Gaethje enters the bout as a betting underdog, with Pimblett listed as the favorite.
Retirement rumors surfaced after Gaethje’s win over Rafael Fiziev, when his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggested that his client could walk away from the sport if he didn’t receive a title opportunity. Gaethje clarified those comments and admitted that emotions played a role in how the message was delivered.
“No, but it’s not the beginning,” Justin Gaethje told TNT Sports when asked about retirement. “I’m 37 years old. I’d be a fool to think that we’re just getting started here. The end is near. … I definitely got what I asked for.”
Gaethje acknowledged that his manager was more vocal than he intended, but he didn’t shy away from owning his mindset at the time.
“It was more my manager putting me in that position,” Gaethje said. “I probably said it, but we’re emotional beings and we’re petty. You don’t get to where I’m at, or where these fighters are at, without being petty. I take things personal, and I thought I had earned something, so I was trying to stand up.”
At 37, Justin Gaethje knows he’s in the final stretch of a career defined by violent wars and unforgettable moments inside the Octagon. One thing still missing from his résumé, however, is the undisputed UFC lightweight title.
Gaethje has already held interim gold once. Winning it again at UFC 324 would put him in position to finally chase the undisputed belt.
“Every single one of these is a traumatic life experience,” Gaethje said. “There’s no matching the high or the low of winning or losing in this sport. It kind of ruins other parts of life.”
Despite the physical toll, Gaethje made it clear that his passion for fighting hasn’t faded.
“But no, I am so hungry,” he said. “I’ve never felt more alive than when I go in there. I will miss it when it’s gone. I think I truly love it more than most.”
For now, retirement can wait. Justin Gaethje remains focused on UFC 324, knowing that another interim title could be his last, best chance to reach the ultimate prize before the end finally arrives.
