Justin Gaethje is tired of being a "company fighter" and not pushing for what he really wants. And what he really wants is another crack at the UFC championship.
Gaethje, who scored a decision victory over Rafael Fiziev this past March, is 4-2 over his last six around losses to Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. The bout with Oliveira was for the UFC lightweight title, his second opportunity at the belt.
Back in 2020, Gaethje, the interim titleholder at the time, lost a unification match with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Overall, he owns a record of 26-5 and has been the "BMF" champion along with holding the World Series of Fighting belt.
"I'm the most consistent guy," Gaethje said (thanks to MMA Junkie for the quotes). "I think anybody that's ever performed for their company and been as consistent as an employee for their company gets a Christmas bonus, gets a thank you, gets a 'Good (expletive) job.' Nah, I'm done doing (expletive) here.
"I love fighting for the UFC and I'd never want to fight somewhere else, but I'm not just going to throw my legacy away for anybody."
Gaethje is upset that the promotion placed Oliveira and Ilia Topuria together for the vacant title at UFC 317 later this month. Islam Makhachev vacated the belt to make the move up to the welterweight division.