Charles Oliveira Urges Justin Gaethje to Decide Between Retirement and Defending His UFC Title
Ever since Justin Gaethje shocked the MMA world by stopping Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, fans have been wondering who will challenge him next.
While Topuria has demanded an immediate rematch, Arman Tsarukyan has strengthened his case for a title shot with his knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Even Gaethje has recently acknowledged Tsarukyan’s position as a top contender.
However, Gaethje has also hinted at the possibility of retiring without defending his newly won title. The American is still recovering from his injuries and has accomplished just about everything in his career. He has openly stated that he doesn’t need to fight again and is happy with what he has achieved. Some believe he could be using retirement talk to negotiate a better deal with the UFC.
Charles Oliveira, however, wants Gaethje to make his intentions clear. The Brazilian recently called out the champion and urged him to decide whether he plans to return or walk away from the sport.
Charles Oliveira Admits He Would Understand if Justin Gaethje Retired Without Defending His Title
Oliveira is set to face Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 335 for the BMF title. He believes a win would put him in a strong position to challenge for the lightweight championship next. However, he also thinks Gaethje needs to be realistic about his next payday, warning that he shouldn’t expect to earn the same amount he received for fighting at the White House.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira said, “I think that, without a doubt, he is not going to make more money in his next fight than he made at the White House. The White House was a place everyone wanted to fight at; everyone wanted to be there. It had all that glamour, so he accepted the money for that fight. In other words, his next purse is not going to be that amount.
Oliveira believes the June 14 event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fighters to earn significantly more than usual. According to the Brazilian, fighters who would typically make around $100,000 could walk away with $500,000 for competing on the historic card.
When asked whether he would consider retiring if he were in Gaethje’s position, Oliveira acknowledged the American’s impressive record of 28 wins and five losses across 33 professional fights. He also admitted that he would understand if Gaethje decided to walk away without defending the belt.
Given everything Gaethje has accomplished, Oliveira believes the champion could retire without facing much criticism. Instead, he would likely receive a hero’s farewell from fans.
Charles Oliveira Believes He Can Leapfrog Arman Tsarukyan
Regardless of whether Gaethje returns to defend his title, Oliveira believes he can put himself at the front of the queue with a win over Lopes at UFC 335.
That would mean leapfrogging Tsarukyan, who holds a split-decision victory over Oliveira from their 2024 encounter. The Brazilian also believes he has an advantage over the Armenian when it comes to selling fights.
Oliveira is confident that beating Lopes would make him the obvious choice for the next title shot, especially given the potential for a high-profile matchup.
He said, “A fight between Charles Oliveira and Diego Lopes will certainly be explosive. If I win this fight, I would definitely be next in line, regardless of whether Gaethje comes back or not, because that would be a very big fight that sells really well.”
However, Oliveira wants Gaethje to make a decision soon so the lightweight title picture can become clearer. With multiple contenders waiting for their opportunity, the champion’s plans could have a major impact on the division’s next move.
Oliveira added, “I think Justin Gaethje needs to see what the path is, whether he’s going to fight or not, whether he’s going to retire, so we can understand what the next step is.”
With Gaethje expected to return before the end of 2026, it remains to be seen how the lightweight division will shape up heading into 2027. Whether he defends his title or decides to retire, his next move could determine who gets the next shot at UFC gold.