‘Not going on’ – Justin Gaethje to retire if unsuccessful against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324

Justin Gaethje is expected to lay down his gloves if he comes up short in his next fight against Paddy Pimblett.

Gaethje fights Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on January 24.

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‘The Highlight’ is the No. 4-ranked UFC lightweight, having won three of his last four bouts in Dana White‘s promotion.

He previously held the interim belt at 155lbs by stopping Tony Ferguson in 2020, but failed to convert his title to an undisputed strap when he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The 37-year-old recognises he hasn’t long left at MMA’s summit and has already explained the high stakes involved in his main event clash with Pimblett.

Well, it seems like it’s really all or nothing for Gaethje ahead of his fight at UFC 324, following comments from his legendary coach, Trevor Wittman.

Win or bust

“When we have these conversations, I’m not afraid to speak it out loud,” Wittman told ESPN MMA, speaking about Gaethje and retirement.

“This is our last run – if we don’t win this fight, we’re not going on.

“We’re not going to go out there and be a gatekeeper and look at money fights.

“He’s a goal setter, and his mentality… that’s the key to Justin, he’s very unique.

“He would fight over and over and over, but he knows he’s got to be there for his family.

“He’s got to be smart, take care of his health.”

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Wittman added that the dream scenario would, of course, be for Gaethje to defeat Pimblett and make several title defences.

“Obviously, this is an interim title fight, so we’re not the champ yet – we have to go and win that belt next,” he added.

“The key to being a champion is one round at a time, one round at a time gets you to one fight at a time.

“Once you get to one fight at a time, then you start to get to the championship levels.

“We’re not overlooking this, but it gets to a point where we have that road block, and we can’t overcome those road blocks no more.”

Wittman explained that, unlike Dustin Poirier ahead of his final UFC fight against Max Holloway, Gaethje is not viewing his fight with Pimblett as a retirement fight.

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The American said that his team have the utmost respect for ‘The Baddy’ and his career thus far in the UFC.

He dismissed the idea that Pimblett has had an easy route to the top, saying they are fully focused on leaving Las Vegas as champion.