Justin Gaethje leaves retirement decision open after beating Ilia Topuria as Conor McGregor fight talk grows

Justin Gaethje is still not ready to say whether he will retire, even after reaching one of the biggest goals of his career. The new undisputed UFC lightweight champion won the title with a fourth-round TKO corner stoppage against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026. While many expected him to decide quickly after becoming champion, Gaethje said he has not made up his mind because several major fights are still coming up that could influence what he does next.

Justin Gaethje says upcoming UFC fights could shape his retirement decision
In a recent interview, Justin Gaethje explained that he has not committed to either retiring or continuing his career. He admitted that he is still thinking about it and wants to see how the next few months play out before making such a big decision.

Gaethje said there are several important fights scheduled in the UFC, and their results could affect what he wants to do next. Although he had earlier spoken about continuing to compete, he now says nothing has been decided yet.

Instead of rushing into an announcement, he wants to take his time and make the choice only when he feels completely sure.

His latest comments show that winning the lightweight title did not automatically answer the retirement question.

Becoming champion was a huge achievement, but it also opened the door to new opportunities. Whether those opportunities are enough to keep him fighting is something only Gaethje can decide.



Fans debate Justin Gaethje’s future after UFC Freedom 250 title win
Gaethje’s comments quickly led to discussion among fans on social media. Many believe he could be waiting for one more high-profile fight before making a final decision.

One of the most common names mentioned was Conor McGregor, with several fans suggesting that Gaethje may want a blockbuster matchup before walking away from the sport.