In keeping with UFC commentator Jon Anik, Justin Gaethje has been left bitterly upset at being snubbed of his shot on the vacant UFC Light-weight Title.
Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will as a substitute combat for the 155-pound belt after Islam Makhachev vacated, leaving Gaethje now searching for different choices for his subsequent combat.
Justin Gaethje Left Seething After Lacking Out On UFC Light-weight Title Shot
Following the announcement that Islam Makhachev’s subsequent combat would mark a transfer as much as welterweight later this 12 months, the UFC Light-weight Title has now turn into vacant.
Because the #3 ranked contender at 155-pounds, Justin Gaethje is definitely one of many fighters who could be in with an opportunity to combat for the vacant belt. Nevertheless, that hasn’t fairly performed out in Gaethje’s favor, with two different fighters as a substitute benefiting from the vacant title shot.
As a substitute, Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira will headline UFC 317 for the vacant UFC Light-weight Title. Oliveira, the previous champion and #2 ranked fighter, deserves one other shot on the belt. Topuria, who himself vacated the featherweight belt in favor of a transfer as much as light-weight, will really feel he’s greater than deserving of the shot too.
Nevertheless, this has left a bitter style within the mouth of Gaethje, who himself believed he was in an ideal place to profit from a UFC Light-weight Title shot at UFC 317. As a substitute, he should look elsewhere and combat one other of the light-weight contenders.
Jon Anik, the UFC lead commentator, revealed in a latest episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast that ‘The Spotlight’ isn’t finest happy about being snubbed for the vacant shot at UFC 317:
“I used to be with Justin Gaethje loads this week, and he was p****d. He seems like definitely he was handed over in favor of Charles Oliveira for this chance in opposition to Ilia Topuria.
“I believe what Justin Gaethje and his supervisor Ali Abdelaziz are searching for, is just a few type of assure they are going to be subsequent,” Anik concluded.
Whether or not or not Gaethje might be subsequent stays to be seen, however he could have to attend a bit of bit longer relying on what occurs within the UFC 317 major occasion.
Who Will Justin Gaethje’s Subsequent Combat Be Towards As a substitute?
Following his thrilling win over Rafael Fiziev within the UFC 313 rematch, Justin Gaethje was holding out hope for a shot on the vacant UFC Light-weight Title subsequent. Nevertheless, that clearly hasn’t labored out in his favor.
Now, ‘The Spotlight’ should face one other of the highest 155-pound contenders earlier than he will get his shot at UFC gold. Because the #3 ranked fighter within the light-weight division, Gaethje might be in with an ideal likelihood at being the following challenger to the UFC 317 major occasion winner between Topuria and Oliveira.
Within the meantime although, he’ll want one other combat. Arman Tsarukyan is the #1 contender at light-weight, in order that combat might occur. Max Holloway is ranked #4 and that combat doesn’t appear possible given Holloway’s dominant win and emphatic knockout of Gaethje at UFC 300 final 12 months.
As a substitute, Gaethje may need to look even additional down the rankings. One man that has been talked about as a possible subsequent combat for Gaethje is Paddy Pimblett.
Pimblett was final seen stopping Michael Chandler at UFC 314, and now has his sights set on the highest 5. Gaethje is nearly the proper subsequent opponent for ‘The Baddy’, with these combat rumors now gathering momentum.
Gaethje vs Pimblett is ready to be formally introduced by UFC President Dana White within the coming weeks, with UFC 319 the goal occasion.
Ought to he beat Pimblett, then there is no such thing as a denying that Justin Gaethje’s subsequent combat after that needs to be in opposition to the Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira winner for the UFC Light-weight Title. Interval.