{"id":740532,"date":"2026-06-16T16:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T16:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/740532\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T16:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T16:54:13","slug":"ufc-legend-pushes-for-justin-gaethje-to-retire-after-incredible-ufc-white-house-upset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/740532\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Legend Pushes for Justin Gaethje to Retire after Incredible UFC White House Upset"},"content":{"rendered":"

One MMA legend believes that Justin Gaethje should consider hanging up his gloves after scoring the biggest win of his career. <\/p>\n

After months of buildup, a seven-fight card dubbed \u201cUFC Freedom 250\u201d<\/a> took place last Sunday night on the South Lawn of The White House. All seven of those fights ended via KO\/TKO, though admittedly the first five bouts all saw the pre-event favorites get their hands raised<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The co-main event closed as a near pick \u2018em and saw Ciryl Gane stop Alex Pereira to win the interim UFC heavyweight belt<\/a> for the second time, and in the night\u2019s final bout Gaethje scored a considerable upset when he forced Ilia Topuria\u2019s corner to stop the fight<\/a> in between the fourth and fifth rounds. <\/p>\n

Demetrious Johnson Urges Justin Gaethje to Retire After UFC White House Win<\/p>\n

The \u201cUFC Freedom 250\u201d main event marked the first defeat of Topuria\u2019s MMA career, and the epic war that featured several momentum swings immediately joined the \u201cFight of the Year\u201d conversation for 2026. <\/p>\n

Aside from the fact that he was a sizeable underdog to Topuria, Gaethje\u2019s victory was made all the more significant by the fact that he finally claimed undisputed UFC gold on his third try. \u201cThe Highlight\u201d had previously come up short in lightweight title bids against Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov. As was the case against Topuria, the Nurmagomedov matchup saw Gaethje enter the night as the UFC\u2019s interim lightweight titleholder. <\/p>\n

\"Justin<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje leaves the Octagon after defeating Ilia Topuria (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. | Amber Searls-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Amidst all kinds of fan suggestions and speculation about what could be next for the UFC\u2019s newly-crowned lightweight king, soon-to-be-inducted UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious \u201cMighty Mouse\u201d Johnson<\/a> has proposed that this is the perfect time for Gaethje to retire. <\/p>\n

\"Demetrious<\/p>\n

Demetrious Johnson (red) following the win over and Wilson Reis (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Sprint Center. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing left for Justin Gaethje to do,\u201d Johnson said via his YouTube channel<\/a> (h\/t MMA Junkie<\/a>). \u201cHe is an undisputed lightweight champion, he\u2019s been interim champion of the world\u2026You guys might hate me for this, but the best thing Justin Gaethje can do is retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

“You Save Your Brain Cells, You Ride Off Into the Sunset”<\/p>\n

As Johnson noted, many fans might strongly disagree with the suggestion that perhaps the most exciting fighter in MMA history should retire after such an iconic moment, but \u201cMighty Mouse\u201d argues that everything about the Topuria fight makes it the perfect time for Gaethje to walk way.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe should retire on this amazing victory against a legend like Ilia Topuria. You retire on top, you save your brain cells, you ride off into the sunset. You beat one of the best athletes. You gave him his first f***ing defeat. Ride away with the White House belt and the undisputed lightweight championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ilia<\/p>\n

Ilia Topuria (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. | Amber Searls-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Who Will Justin Gaethje Fight Next if He Doesn’t Retire?<\/p>\n

Although an immediate rematch with Topuria very clearly looks to be an option at this stage, Gaethje\u2019s victory does put the lightweight division in an interesting spot given his history with some of the other top fighters at 155 lbs. <\/p>\n

\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Holloway (blue gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (red gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Former UFC featherweight titleholder Max Holloway is currently ranked at #4 in the lightweight division and is scheduled to welcome Conor McGregor back to the UFC next month at UFC 329<\/a>. \u201cBlessed\u201d famously stopped Gaethje with an incredible last-second knockout during their \u201cBMF\u201d title fight at UFC 300, but Holloway relinquished that belt in his last outing against Gaethje’s former opponent Oliveira. <\/p>\n

\"Charles<\/p>\n

Charles Oliveira (left) defeats Justin Gaethje during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Gaethje may also be interested in running things back with Oliveira after the Brazilian submitted him in their title bout at UFC 2022. There\u2019s also the option of top contender Arman Tsarukyan, who has been waiting for his first shot at lightweight gold after a weigh-in day injury forced him out of his scheduled rematch with Islam Makhachev last year. <\/p>\n

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