New champion Gaethje rules out third fight in 2026 after stunning Topuria upset

Justin Gaethje has effectively closed the door on a third fight in 2026, telling ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ that returning to the Octagon again this year is almost out of the question — just weeks after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history.

Gaethje (28-5) dethroned Ilia Topuria at UFC White House to claim the undisputed lightweight title, capping a remarkable year that also included an interim title victory over Paddy Pimblett in January. Winning two fights in a single calendar year is already unusual for the 37-year-old, and he was unambiguous about his intentions.

“I already fought twice this year,” Gaethje said. “Very, very rarely do you get me twice in one year. So there’s very, very, very small chance that I would ever consider fighting this year again.”

The numbers back him up. Gaethje has never competed more than twice in a year during his UFC career, and he fought only once apiece in 2024 and 2025 before this year’s double-header. The win over Topuria was his third attempt at the undisputed title, having previously fallen short on two earlier occasions.

The victory also carried significant personal weight. Ahead of the Topuria bout, there had been speculation that Gaethje would consider retirement if he lost — making the upset win not only a career peak but potentially a stay of execution for his time in the sport. With the belt now around his waist, Gaethje appears content to let 2026 belong to that achievement alone.