Justin Gaethje, once again, finds himself in the eye of a storm not of his own making—left circling the UFC lightweight title picture without a seat at the table as the next championship fight is set. For a man known as “The Highlight,” the recent headlines surrounding UFC 317 likely feel like lowlights, at least from his vantage point.
Passed Over, Again
On June 28, the vacant UFC lightweight title will be contested—not by Gaethje, but by Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. It’s a matchup that has drawn eyebrows and ire alike, particularly from Gaethje and his team. According to UFC broadcaster Jon Anik, Gaethje was “pissed” upon hearing the announcement. And rightly so. The 35-year-old slugger is coming off a big win over Rafael Fiziev—a rebound performance that reminded everyone he’s part of the top tier of 155-pounders.
The backdrop to this latest twist adds even more intrigue. Topuria, undefeated and ambitious, recently vacated his featherweight title to pursue gold in a second division. Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev, who had held the lightweight belt, is heading north to welterweight for a superfight with Jack Della Maddalena. The chaos leaves a belt without a home—and Gaethje, once again, without a coronation.
Look, Topuria is great but he it’s not like he’s going to a division that could use some stars. The lightweight division is stacked and Topuria getting an immediate title shot upon entering the division is sort of a slap in the face.
History and Stakes
Gaethje’s record speaks for itself: a former interim champ, victories in three of his last four, including a knockout of Dustin Poirier and a win in a war against Fiziev. His only recent loss? A devastating KO at the hands of Max Holloway at UFC 300—a fight many believed he took to keep the UFC’s marquee event stacked, rather than hold out for a title opportunity.
Oliveira, Gaethje’s former conqueror, has had his own up-and-down ride: a big win over Michael Chandler followed by a canceled bout with Makhachev due to injury, and a razor-thin loss to Arman Tsarukyan. Yet Oliveira still gets the nod over Gaethje for the UFC 317 main event, despite their history and Gaethje’s arguably more consistent momentum.
What’s Next?
Gaethje’s team is now lobbying hard for one thing: clarity. If he’s not next now, he wants ironclad assurance that he’s next after. Anik hints that the UFC may be open to this, given Gaethje’s willingness to take dangerous fights, his fan-friendly style, and his loyalty to the promotion. But verbal assurances and fight contracts are not the same.
For Gaethje, the waiting game continues. He remains close enough to taste gold, yet repeatedly finds it slipping through his fingers. Whether June 28 ends up being a coronation for Topuria or a resurrection for Oliveira, “The Highlight” will be watching closely—ready to reclaim his shot at glory.
