We may have seen the last of lightweight action star, Justin Gaethje.
That’s according to his longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who claims “The Highlight” is feeling “disrespected” by the promotion after getting passed over in favor of Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria, who fight for the lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas.
I guess he’s still “pissed.”
“Justin Gaethje fights the winner,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “He’s won three of his last four, he saved the UFC two times. They needed him, and he’s there. The guy did so much for the sport. If anyone said he doesn’t deserve it … he said, ‘If I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just going to hang up my gloves.’ He’s a very principled guy. He feels strongly about this.”
That’s bad news for the “Highlight” hungry Paddy Pimblett.
“He told me this yesterday,” Abdelaziz continued. “I was at the fight, he said, ‘I’m not going to get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter, I love the UFC, but I feel the UFC has to love me back.’ And he doesn’t feel the love right now. But listen, at the end of the day, I think, this guy, they love him. I think they will give him what he wanted. But at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia.”
Gaethje is 0-2 in lightweight title fights, getting submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 and then tapping for a second time against Oliveira at UFC 274. That said, Gaethje remains ranked No. 3 at 155 pounds, right behind “Do Bronx” and the “angry” Arman Tsarukyan — who may still be in Dana White’s doghouse (because of this).
Expect more on this in the wake of UFC 317.
