With the lightweight starting to take shape, it looks like Justin Gaethje was left out.
Since Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement, some major fights have been marked by 155 pounds. Michael Chandler faces Charles Oliveira for the vacant title, Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor are designed to end his trilogy, and Tony Ferguson will face Beneil Dariush.
But where does that leave Gaethje? “The Highlight” comes from a defeat in the second round via submission to the then lightweight champion Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in October, but remains at the top of the category ranking.
In a recent interview with Raptors MMA, Gaethje vented his frustration by expressing his disappointment at the current situation in the UFC.
“Who knows, man,” said Gaethje. “I can’t say much about it right now. I’m sure that talking about it is the reason for being here in the past. Who knows? Maybe I upset someone, I don’t know. All I know is that since I was 12, 13 years old, I heard Dana White do his interviews and explain what he wanted in a fighter, and I am that son of a bitch.
“If I am disrespected, it will hurt because I really believed what that man said. So, yes, it will hurt because I feel like a businessman from day one. I don’t want to go anywhere else, I don’t want to fight anywhere else. But my principles are the most important thing for me, so we’ll see what happens. “
Before Nurmagomedov’s defeat, Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) managed four consecutive victories, including a victory over Tony Ferguson to win the provisional lightweight title at UFC 249. He thrilled fans with his exciting style, and claimed nine post-fight bonuses in eight octagon appearances. Gaethje recently revealed that he was in negotiations to fight Chandler, but the UFC ended up choosing to equate Chandler with Oliveira by the vacant 155 pound handle, leaving him with few options for his next fight.