The refusal of Justin Gaethje to fight against everyone alongside Ilia Topuria could bear fruit.
The former UFC -Interim -light weight champion and BMF title holder is still a top player at 155 pounds almost a decade after he debuted in the top 5.
Ranked #3 in the lightweight division and winner of three of his last four fights, Gaethje was upset, he did not get the title fight against Ilia Topuria on UFC 317, with the title shot to Charles Oliveira.
Gaethje said that the UFC 'owes' a title fight and threatened to retire if he has not given the Topuria champion. UFC CEO Dana White called Gaethje Ultimatum's title fight 'crazy' and told him that he retired afterwards.
When it comes to Topuria's first title defense, Justin Gaethje is hardly the only option of the UFC, because Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett are also in the title mix. Pimblett faced Topuria after the fight and Tsarukyan 'justified his wrong' by weighing as the backup hunter for the UFC 317 Headliner.
However, one of Gaethje's colleague light weights is behind 'The Highlight' that gets the next title fight.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
'Make the UFC the most money' … then Hooker says Justin Gaethje 'moves the needle' to Ilia Topuria
Although Pimblett van Liverpool is a huge star in the UK and has a storyline with Topuria, #7 UFC Lightweight says Hooker that it is more financially useful for Gaethje to fight the next champion.
Gaethje is perhaps the most exciting hunter of the UFC and the knockout is one KO removed from $ 1 million in performance bonuses. The heavy legs of Gaethje are recommended as a potential problem for a boxer like Topuria.
“I think they will do Gaethje,” Hooker said about Topuria's next fight on Submission Radio.
'I think they want to do Gaethje [vs] Paddy, but apparently Gaethje is not going to take the rice fight, “Hooker said about the matchmaking of the UFC.
“It just leaves Paddy or Gaethje behind.
“The only pay-per-view sale that is really counting on the North American market. And so it is, although Paddy's, such as, this big star on Instagram and S-I don't know if he really moves the needle in North America,” Hooker said about Pimblett.
“Justin Gaethje will certainly move the needle in North America.
“So I think he probably makes the UFC the most money by being a champion,” Hooker said about Gaethje.
Justin Gaethje: 'Not my fault that hooker stopped'
Gaethje and Hooker were initially planned for a five-round war earlier this year at UFC 313.
The potential title -eliminator was eventually canceled for reasons from Gaethje's control, while Hooker withdrew from the fight with a broken hand.
Gaethje stayed on the map and fought against Korte-Notice replacement Rafael Fiziev and defeated the top candidate for a second time in March.
Gaethje is waiting for the UFC to give him a title chances.
“I am the most consistent man,” said Gaethje about why he should get the next title fight on the improvised podcast.
“I think someone who has ever performed for their company and has been consistent as an employee for their company, gets a Christmas bonus, gets a thank you, gets a good f – job, such as, no, I'm done doing s – here …
“I love to fight for the UFC, I never want to fight anywhere else, but I'm not just going to throw away my estate for someone.
“I wait until they announce it,” Gaethje said that she might have received his third undisputed title shot.
'[Oliveira] is 2-2, I am 3-1. I mean, what do you want me to do? Not my fault [Dan] Hooker stopped … “
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