Justin Gaethje may not fight again if the pay isn't right, says MMA coach

Justin Gaethje‘s decision to retire or not may come down to pay.

Over two months after his standout performance on the White House lawn, Gaethje still hasn’t decided on his future. Retirement remains a strong option for the UFC lightweight champion, who is weighing the costs and benefits before announcing his intentions. But ultimately, according to Syndicate MMA founder and coach John Wood, Gaethje’s decision comes down to pay.

Praising Justin Gaethje for the work to this point in his career, John Wood labeled ‘The Highlight’ someone you just cannot bet against.

“There’s guys that you learn to not bet against, you know, or route against. And I think Gaethje has become one of those guys, obviously,” Wood said. “That old dog has just got that fight in him. He’s a guy that, until he shows that he’s slowing down or his skill set is deteriorating, that’s a guy that just finds ways to win.”

“He’s as tough as nails; I don’t know if there’s anybody tougher in the sport than Justin Gaethje.”

If the UFC is willing to present Justin Gaethje with the biggest, most life-changing purse of his career, we will likely see Gaethje make at least one more walk to the octagon, claims John Wood.

“There’s a lot of talk of whether he’s going to fight again or not fight again. I think that comes down to probably dollars and cents,” Wood added. “I hope he gets it. I hope he goes out and gets the biggest payday of his life and can ride off into the sunset, win or lose, taking care of his family.”

“He’s one of the true guys that deserves it. That guy has done everything, fought everyone, and fought in an emphatic fashion. The most entertaining guy who’s probably left most of his brain cells in that cage, and sacrificed himself to the sport.”

“I really hope he gets what he deserves and gets that massive payday if he does decide to come back.

Listen to John Wood’s comments about Justin Gaethje in the video below.