Does Justin Gaethje Deserve the Next Title Shot?
Justin Gaethje is undoubtedly one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history. Gaethje's superhuman ability to avoid boring fights paired with some serious punching power, has made him an absolute fan favorite. Justin Gaethje is coming off of a win against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. A win that Gaethje believes has earned him a shot at Islam Makhachev’s Lightweight Championship. However, in a division with stacked contenders the question has to be asked: does Justin Gaethje deserve the opportunity?
Gaethje has two losses in his last five fights. Gaethje’s last loss produced one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history when he fell victim to a vicious overhand right against Max Holloway as time expired. Gaethjes’ other loss in his last five fights came against then-champion Charles Oliveira in the first round. This would be Gaethje’s second failed attempt at capturing undisputed gold. In Justin Gaethje’s last three wins, he defeated Rafael Fiziev twice and Dustin Poirier.
Justin Gaethje’s claim to a championship opportunity is very interesting compared to other contenders. Arman Tsarukyan is the clear challenger for the belt, but after pulling out of his fight with Islam Makhachev, UFC President Dana White has made it clear that Tsarukyan will not be next in line. Charles Oliveira certainly has done enough to secure a title fight. Oliveira, who submitted Justin Gaethje back in 2022, lost his title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 and was never given a rematch. With Oliveira’s only losses in his last 10 fights coming to Arman Tsarukyan and the champion Islam Makhachev, it’s hard to argue that Gaethje deserves the fight over him.
At the end of the day, nobody can blame Justin Gaethje for wanting a championship fight. Gaethje, a certified legend, is getting older and has been unable to claim the undisputed gold that has eluded him. In the lightweight division, however, one win shouldn’t grant you a title shot. A win over Arman Tsarukyan would surely guarantee Gaethje a title shot. In all likelihood, Charles Oliviera or lightweight newcomer Ilia Topuria will be next in line. Justin Gaethje showed he still has what it takes to be at the top of the division at UFC 313. Even though he has not done enough to challenge Islam Makhachev at the moment, one more win over a lightweight contender and Gaethje's claim to a title shot would be solidified.
