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Champion Gaethje reveals serious injuries and casts doubt on UFC future at 37

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje says he has not decided whether he will fight again, citing a deep knee bruise and hand injuries sustained across his title run. The 37-year-old insists he will rest before making any career decision.

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Champion Gaethje reveals serious injuries and casts doubt on UFC future at 37
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Justin Gaethje is leaving his fighting future open, admitting he does not know whether he will defend the UFC lightweight title as he recovers from significant injuries picked up during his championship run.

Gaethje, 37, claimed the undisputed lightweight belt with a stunning upset over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June, forcing Topuria to quit on his stool. That victory came just five months after an interim title win over Paddy Pimblett in January — a back-to-back stretch the champion says has taken a heavy physical toll.

“I have injuries I have to take care of. I haven’t made a decision — but I am 37 years old. My first fight was in 2008. I’ve had 40 fights, including my amateur fights, so I don’t know… I don’t need to [fight again],” Gaethje said on the Flagrant podcast.

Gaethje revealed he is still carrying a deep bruise in his knee and that his hands remain too damaged to punch with, three months on from his last outing. He was clear that his hesitation is not about ducking the division’s leading contender.

Arman Tsarukyan strengthened his claim for a title shot with a knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, and Gaethje acknowledged the 24-3 Armenian is next in line — if and when a defence happens.

“It’s not that I don’t want to fight Arman; it really isn’t,” Gaethje added. “He’s the next in line; if and when I defend this championship, that will be who I fight. I just don’t know. Right now, I have a deep bruise in my knee. Still can’t punch with my hand. We’re three months removed from my last fight. I gave a lot of myself for this fight in January. In June, luckily, I came out on top, but it cost me a lot, so I need to recover. I need to rest my brain because a lot of training went into those fights.”

The champion said he intends to enjoy the remainder of the year before arriving at what he described as “a business decision and a life decision” about his career. Whether that decision leads to one more fight or a quiet exit from the sport, Gaethje made plain he feels no obligation to rush it.

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