Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) fights Rafael Fiziev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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“I Don’t Believe They Need Me Anymore” – Justin Gaethje Gets Real As Talks Of Him Fighting Paddy Pimblett Emerge

Former interim champion Justin Gaethje questions his place in the UFC after rumors of him taking on Paddy Pimblett emerge!

Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) fights Rafael Fiziev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The UFC lightweight division has always been a shark tank. Fighters claw their way up rankings only to watch newcomers leap ahead based on hype alone. It’s a reality that veteran fighters know all too well, but few speak about it as bluntly as Justin Gaethje just did.

The former interim lightweight champion isn’t mincing words about potential matchmaking decisions. When rumors started swirling about him fighting Paddy Pimblett, Gaethje’s response was crystal clear. He doesn’t see the point in fighting someone ranked well below him when a title shot should be next. The whole situation has left him questioning whether the UFC still values what he brings to the table.

Justin Gaethje Questions His Place In The UFC

Gaethje has built his reputation on being a reliable warrior who shows up when the UFC needs him most. He stepped in to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300 when the promotion needed a marquee bout. That willingness to take tough fights has defined his career, but now he’s wondering if that loyalty is being rewarded properly. The idea of fighting Pimblett, who sits at number nine in the rankings, doesn’t make sense to him. Gaethje sees it as the UFC prioritizing entertainment over merit. It’s a harsh but honest assessment of where he stands.

“If they want me to take that route [Paddy], then I don’t believe they need me anymore. The champion was calling me to fight, they vacated the belt and gave the fight to a guy who was 2-2 [Charles Oliveira]. So if their algorithm and math tell them to use me until I get beat, then I have to reevaluate what I’m doing here.”

Justin Gaethje says UFC is using him if they book Paddy matchup👀😳

"If they want me to take that route [Paddy], then I don't believe they need me anymore. The champion was calling me to fight, they vacated the belt and gave the fight to a guy who was 2-2. So if their algorithm… pic.twitter.com/srIDyowmXr
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 23, 2025

The whole controversy started when Pimblett faced off with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria after UFC 318. That staredown got people talking about potential matchups, but Gaethje wasn’t impressed. He’s been grinding in this division for years while Pimblett is still climbing the ladder.

His retirement plan is ambitious but simple. Gaethje wants to beat Topuria for the lightweight title, then defend it against Max Holloway to avenge his knockout loss. If everything goes perfectly, he would retire next July holding both the lightweight and BMF championships. It’s a long shot, but stranger things have happened in this sport!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!