Justin Gaethje has received advice while waiting to fight UFC champion Ilia Topuria.
The former BMF and Interim title holder lays down his foot in the lightweight division. Prior to the title of Ilia Topuria against Charles Oliveira on UFC 317, Gaethje has the only way we see him in the Octagon, is when it is against the champion.
Winner of three of his last four fights, Gaethje believes that he owes Topuria after an almost finish by Rafael Fiziev on UFC 313.
UFC CEO Dana White was not a fan of Gaethje's 'Wacky' pension ultimatum and said he would probably have to retire.
In the midst of rumors that Gaethje got his wish against Topuria, we asked former top candidate Al Iiaquinta his thoughts about a potential third undisputed title shot for the fan's favorite.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Al Iaquinta on Justin Gaethje threatens to retire: 'It is almost better to beg'
Iaquinta says that pension ultimatums are 'never good' in the UFC.
Iaquinta is a former top-five UFC light weight that was once booked to fight Gaethje in 2018. The fight never took place because the bolt agreement was not completed.
'Raging' already knows the industry, with the retired hunter who comments on Gaethje's current situation.
“It's never good,” Iaquinta said that Gaethje threatened to retire in an interview with Bloody Elbow.
“You will never … listen, I understand one hundred percent,” Iaquinta added.
'I am not saying that I would not do the same if I was him.
“I think it is, if you are dealing with the UFC, it is almost better to beg a bit than giving an ultimatum,” Iaquinta explained.
“Gaethje has been there for a while. He has been there and he did that. And always, everyone roots for Gaethje. He is such a warrior. It is an exciting time in the lightweight division.”
Justin Gaethje is 2-3 in UFC title fights
When it's time for Gaethje to retire, the lightweight legend will probably have a place in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Gaethje, the former WSOF champion, arrived UFC Gold for the first time in 2020 with a sensational TKO by Tony Ferguson on UFC 249. Gaethje was dropped early in the fight, but came back to Ferguson's 12-Fight Win Streak and won the interim light weight title.
Gaethje was unable to unite later that year against unbeaten champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and suffered from his first of three title fights.
The American resolves Charles Oliveira in an undisputed title fight through the first round entry and was stopped again by Max Holloway in the last seconds of their BMF title fight on UFC 300, by Brutal Buzzer-Breater Knock-Out.
Gaethje's second title fight victory was perhaps his best so far. That is the time that Gaethje rival Dustin Poirier switched off with a main kick to catch the BMF title on UFC 291 in 2023.