{"id":18058,"date":"2025-07-23T13:37:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T13:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/18058\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T13:37:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T13:37:08","slug":"morning-report-justin-gaethje-wonders-if-potential-paddy-pimblett-fight-means-ufc-doesnt-need-me-anymore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/18058\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning Report: Justin Gaethje wonders if potential Paddy Pimblett fight means UFC doesn\u2019t \u2018need me anymore\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Justin Gaethje<\/a> isn\u2019t demanding a title shot, but he\u2019s unclear on what the UFC has planned for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Highlight\u201d is one one of the promotion\u2019s most exciting fighters and has been a mainstay in the rankings for the better part of the past decade. He has twice had the opportunity to compete for the lightweight title, and though he\u2019s fallen short, he feels his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and reputation should be enough for him to be considered for another championship fight.<\/p>\n

In his most recent outing, the 36-year-old defeated Rafael Fiziev<\/a> to make it three wins in his past four fights. Gaethje has recently expressed his frustration over the UFC seemingly freezing him out of the title picture<\/a> and he didn\u2019t hold back when asked about being linked to possible No. 1 contender matchups with Arman Tsarukyan<\/a> or Paddy Pimblett<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d Gaethje told ESPN<\/a> when asked specifically about fighting Pimblett. \u201cIf that\u2019s the route that they want me to take, then I don\u2019t believe that they need me anymore. You know what I mean? I know that sounds petty or whatever, but I\u2019m No. 3. I\u2019m 3-1 in my last four. The champion was calling to fight me. They vacated. They bring a new guy in and they give a guy that\u2019s 2-2 the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if their algorithm and their math tells them just to use me until I get beat, then I\u2019m going to have to really reevaluate what I\u2019m doing here because I signed up for a merit-based system. I have lived by that and if they want to give Arman the fight – which Arman shit the bed, had the fight – I had the fight, but I took another fight for them. He had the fight, but pulled out because his back hurt. Those are two different scenarios, for me to get put in the same position as him, and have to fight for my spot, then no, I\u2019m going to be upset about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaethje had previously campaigned to challenge Islam Makhachev<\/a> for a UFC title, but it was announced Makhachev was moving up to welterweight, leaving a vacant belt up for grabs that was subsequently won by former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria<\/a> at UFC 317<\/a>. Topuria delivered a thudding knockout of Charles Oliveira<\/a> and was then immediately presented with a potential challenger in longtime rival Pimblett, who was invited by Joe Rogan<\/a> to step into the cage for an impromptu faceoff.<\/p>\n

UFC CEO Dana White<\/a> later said Pimblett was not authorized to confront Topuria<\/a>, and Gaethje had no intention of playing along with that scenario.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that it was a mistake, I knew that it wasn\u2019t the UFC\u2019s doing, I knew it was kind of just what was happening because of the environment with Joe calling him in,\u201d Gaethje said. \u201cI was obviously upset. My nephew was there with me, I walked out with both of my fingers in the air. At first, while [Topuria] was doing his interview, they were trying to put me and Arman in camera frame together because I was trying to exit, he was right behind me, and they were filming him and I kept moving to get out of the way so they could film him and they kept readjusting and putting me in frame.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018What are you doing?\u2019 He\u2019s pointing at both of us two saying he was trying to get us in a frame together. So as Paddy and him are in there, they\u2019re trying to put me and Arman in a frame and I was like, \u2018F*ck you. Get that f*cking camera away from me. You f*cking wish that you were going to do this right now. Go f*ck yourself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

In recent interviews, Gaethje has seemingly laid out an ultimatum for the UFC, but he hasn\u2019t been explicitly clear about what he might do if presented with unfavorable matchmaking. Gaethje is stopping short of threatening retirement, but he\u2019s not happy with the current state of the contender line either.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even want to entertain that conversation because like I said, I have all the desire to compete,\u201d Gaethje said. \u201cIf I felt that in any way, then I would be done here. I just want to\u2014obviously, from a biased perspective\u2014be recognized as the most consistent and one of the top guys in the world. I did what I did. How many more fights do I have to\u2014if I fight fights where if they win they get a championship and then I win and it\u2019s still I\u2019m maybe going to have to fight someone else, this is not the situation that I wanted to get myself in and this is the situation I\u2019m going to keep myself from. And that\u2019s where we\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Home. Ben Askren<\/a> is out of the hospital following double lung transplant surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Puppet Master. Khabib Nurmagomedov<\/a> credits Dana White with fanning the flames of his feud<\/a> with Conor McGregor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Trilogy? Bella Mir<\/a> wants a piece of<\/a> Mya Lesnar.<\/p>\n

Smart? Brendan Schaub<\/a> thinks Renato Moicano<\/a> is \u201cbrainwashed\u201d after not accepting share<\/a> of UFC antitrust settlement.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t. But feel free to look at Stephen Thompson<\/a>\u2019s gnarly leg cuts if you must<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ICYMI, here\u2019s the latest On To the Next One matchmaking from Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee as we figure out what\u2019s next for a victorious Max Holloway<\/a> and other standouts from UFC 318<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lesnar vs. Mir 3???<\/p>\n

Why not? I feel like crying again.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In the lab with Tom Aspinall<\/a> for Whittaker vs. De Ridder.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Got three hours to kill for a Khabib interview?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Or if you have 10 minutes…<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fighter vs. Writer. MMA Fighting\u2019s Damon Martin talks to UFC analyst Alan Jouban about the retirement of his fellow Louisianian Dustin Poirier<\/a>, whether Max Holloway can get a rematch with Ilia Topuria, and more.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The essential combat sports schedule.<\/p>\n

Honest assessment.<\/p>\n

Fair enough, it was close but damage probably made the difference, should have done much better anyway, if i keep going like this it ain\u2019t going anywhere, ill figure it out no excuses onto the next.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

No skips.<\/p>\n

@DustinPoirier<\/a> has a top 5 fight discography let\u2019s argue
Just finished watching every fight that I could find of his in chronological order and holy shit it\u2019s easy to forget what someone has done in their career when they been doing it so long<\/p>\n

\u2014 Terrion Flash Ware (@flashmma) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

McGrillen vs. Garnett if there\u2019s any justice in this world.<\/p>\n

PFL GOAT FIGHT BRACKET IS HERE <\/p>\n

Starting TOMORROW, you decide which clash goes down as the greatest fight in PFL history.<\/p>\n

Legendary wars. Epic finishes. Unforgettable moments. <\/p>\n

Voting opens tomorrow.
Only one fight can be crowned the GOAT.
Who makes it to the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/pxjZt4vZvS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PFL (@PFLMMA) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s neat.<\/p>\n

Sus.<\/p>\n

Ok so Parker just acted unilaterally to award the belt here? No rankings, no governing bodies? <\/p>\n

Also a tad coincidental that the so called ‘Best Dad Ever’ just happens to be her own father?! Is anyone looking into this? https:\/\/t.co\/z1r8YeVzny<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NPC Stu (@stubs451) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Call your shot.<\/p>\n

Dana White announced my next fight on October 4th, I\u2019m knocking Alex out this time. There is no other way, get ready for the big show.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Tribute.<\/p>\n

Today we lost The Godfather of Heavy Metal, Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy is by far, one of my all time favorite musicians and had the greatest influence on my favorite genre of music.<\/p>\n

Rest in peace to The Prince Darkness<\/p>\n

https:\/\/t.co\/Vgm0UQc7lO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Navajo Stirling<\/a> (7-0) vs. Rodolfo Bellato<\/a> (12-2-1, 1 NC); UFC Perth, Sept. 28<\/p>\n

Doo Ho Choi<\/a> (16-4-1) vs. Daniel Santos<\/a> (13-2); UFC Perth, Sept. 28<\/p>\n

Colby Thicknesse<\/a> (7-1) vs. Josias Musasa<\/a> (8-1); UFC Perth, Sept. 28<\/p>\n

Loma Lookboonmee<\/a> (10-3) vs. Alexia Thainara<\/a> (12-1); UFC Perth, Sept. 28<\/p>\n

Magomed Ankalaev<\/a> (20-1-1, 1 NC) vs. Alex Pereira<\/a> (12-3) 2; UFC 320<\/a>, Oct. 4<\/p>\n

Merab Dvalishvili<\/a> (20-4) vs. Cory Sandhagen<\/a> (18-5); UFC 320, Oct. 4<\/p>\n

Edmen Shahbazyan<\/a> (15-5) vs. Andre Muniz<\/a> (24-7); UFC 320, Oct. 4<\/p>\n

Jiri Prochazka<\/a> (31-5-1) vs. Khalil Rountree<\/a> (14-6, 1 NC); UFC 320, Oct. 4<\/p>\n

Vitor Petrino<\/a> (12-2) vs. Thomas Petersen<\/a> (10-3); UFC Rio, Oct. 11<\/p>\n

Tom Aspinall (15-3) vs. Ciryl Gane<\/a> (13-2); UFC 321<\/a>, Oct. 25<\/p>\n

Ehhhhh we got some fights coming up! UFC 320 and UFC 321 were without headliners, but now we have three more title fights scheduled for October. Even though they all make sense on paper, are you satisfied?<\/p>\n

Also, with Jed Meshew on vacation this week, there will be no Morning Report on Thursday, but we\u2019ll be back Friday.<\/p>\n

Poll
\n Which announced fight are you most excited about?<\/p>\n

\n 24%\n <\/p>\n

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2<\/p>\n

(15 votes)<\/p>\n

\n 25%\n <\/p>\n

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen<\/p>\n

(16 votes)<\/p>\n

\n 32%\n <\/p>\n

Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree<\/p>\n

(20 votes)<\/p>\n

\n 17%\n <\/p>\n

Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane<\/p>\n

(11 votes)<\/p>\n

62 votes total<\/p>\n

Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n

If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee<\/a> or @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n