Justin Gaethje reveals timeframe for conversation that will determine whether he’s retiring

Justin Gaethje hasn’t decided whether he’ll retire yet but could know by the end of the year.

Despite Gaethje seemingly changed his mind on a rematch with Ilia Topuria, uncertainty still surrounds the top of the lightweight division.

Arman Tsarukyan has said that he’ll get a title shot at 155 pounds if he gets his hand raised later today in the co-main event.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’d go on to challenge ‘The Highlight’, who still has a big decision to make with the help of his family.

Georges St-Pierre advised Justin Gaethje to retire instead of fighting again due to his undisputed title win being the perfect way to close out his career.

While this is something he’s keeping in mind, Gaethje has acknowledged needing to treat his career as a business following the best victory of his career.

‘The Highlight’ has stated on several occasions that he won’t be competing again this year and hasn’t decided whether he’ll come back in 2027.

During a recent podcast interview, the champion revealed that he will probably know what his plans are when he meets up with his family before the end of the year.

“We’re just kind of figuring it out,” Gaethje told the Double Coverage Podcast. “They [his family] know that I’m hurt right now. They know that I can’t fight again this year so they kind of just want me to enjoy this. Recover, rest, enjoy what I have accomplished, and then I think we’re all going to around Christmas time probably have a conversation about what’s next.”

On his third attempt, Justin Gaethje finally became the undisputed lightweight champion, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history👏🏼

The American has said that by finally winning the belt that had previously eluded him, he feels like he’s already “fulfilled his legacy”.

However, in order to remain at the highest level of the sport, he doesn’t let himself become too focused on life after fighting.

Therefore, Gaethje is relying on his family and team to make this big decision for him, saying that he has no idea how many fights he could have left because all he worries about is the next one.