Justin Gaethje is searching for a significant fight, following his ‘Fight of the Night’ performance against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286. He now embarks on what he refers to as his final quest for a UFC championship.
Justin Gaethje was “happy” to see Rafael Fiziev “drowning in his blood” 😰 #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/OvzPV3IKYH
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 19, 2023
“I did what I had to do I fought someone ranked below me. I 100% believe that I deserve to fight someone ranked in front of me. The loser of the (Charles) Oliveira and (Beneil) Dariush fight. I’d rather not fight Dariush I love that dude,” Gaethje told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“I think he’s going to beat Oliveria. I fought like a complete idiot when I fought Oliveira so I would love to have that fight back, but Dustin (Poirier) is just as good as an option.”
In his UFC career, Justin (24-4) has only been defeated by champions or former champions. As a former title challenger, a rematch with one of them would appear to be a logical next step for him.
Perhaps even a matchup with the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, who recently defended his title against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Justin Gaethje is in media headlines for his controversial statement
Following a grueling and bloody five-round battle with Fiziev, the judges ultimately awarded Gaethje the victory by majority decision due to the close nature of the fight.
“The damage that I was able to…he wanted to taste blood. He wanted to taste my blood but unfortunately (for him) he was drowning in his blood. I’m happy about that.”
During his post-fight interview, Justin stated that he doesn’t anticipate fighting for much longer. With this being his final chance to pursue a UFC championship. This raises the question of how much longer he intends to compete.
Gaethje stated, “It’s not a preoccupation for me. It’s just a matter of fact. I’m 34 years old, and I’ll take the necessary fights to reach my desired position. There are numerous examples of why you shouldn’t stay in this sport longer than necessary.”
