Justin Gaethje unlikely to fight again in 2026

Don’t expect to see Justin
Gaethje in the Octagon again this year. 

Gaethje (28-5) recently dethroned Ilia
Topuria in a massive upset at
UFC White House to win the undisputed lightweight title. “The
Highlight” had previously won the interim title against Paddy
Pimblett this past January. Gaethje notes that it is already a
rarity to see him compete twice in a year. Gaethje revealed that it
is highly unlikely for him to compete again in 2026.

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“I already fought twice this year,” Gaethje said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”. “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.”

Gaethje has never fought more than twice a year in the
UFC. The newly-crowned lightweight champion had competed only
once each in 2024 and 2025. Gaethje’s win over Topuria marked his
third bid for the undisputed title. There was speculation about the
37-year-old retiring if he had lost against
Topuria.