“I am no.3 in the world, the most exciting guy that’s ever stepped in there and I don’t have a choice. It’s all on the UFC. We’ll see what they want,” Justin Gaethje stated in the Octagon interview after his win at UFC 313. He has announced his arrival into the lightweight title picture where Charles Oliveria, Arman Tsarukyan, and Ilia Topuria were vying for a shot. “I go in there and get a finish with an outstanding performance…I think I’ll be one of the guys that they consider to fight [Islam] Makhachev,” Justin Gaethje said last month when speaking about his future title aspirations. His prediction has come to pass and the odds seem to be shifting in his favor.

Many, including UFC legend Henry Cejudo, quickly placed “The Highlight” into the title picture, and this sentiment was echoed during the UFC 313 post-fight press conference. When asked about Gaethje’s championship trajectory, Dana White responded, “I mean, what’s he ranked now? Fourth or something? He’s still the number three ranked guy in the world, so the odds of him getting the title shot are pretty good.” Islam Makhachev also shared this view, despite (and because of) the two never having faced each other in the Octagon.

During the post-fight press conference, Gaethje spoke candidly about his aspirations for the title. He acknowledged the challenge of facing Makhachev, knowing that a fight with the lightweight champion will be no easy feat. “I don’t know (what I want next), we’ll see,” Gaethje said. “I mean, I wanna fight for the belt, obviously, but it’s a much different matchup than I just had. They tried to give me a donut, but I need to get back to running if I’m going to fight Makhachev.”

“I’m gonna have to get my jiu-jitsu coach out here. It’s really just confidence. He’s a tough matchup for me. He’s so good, he’s so strong. And I have to have a perfect night if I want to beat him,” ‘The Highlight’ said after stressing the need to improve his cardio.

In the fight, Justin Gaethje, coming off a tough loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 last year, turned things around with a standout performance against short-notice opponent Rafael Fiziev. Although ‘The Highlight’ dropped the first round, his striking dominated in the later rounds. Fiziev, however, didn’t just stand there to take Gaethje’s punches and takedowns—he responded with sharp kicks and powerful body shots that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, setting up a thrilling third round where everything was left to be decided. In the final round, the Arizona export left no room for Fiziev to capitalize. Despite stepping in on short notice, Fiziev continued to apply pressure but couldn’t match Gaethje’s devastating uppercuts.

At 36, Justin Gaethje, the former WSOF lightweight champion, has dedicated over a decade to mastering the sport. His flawless record earned him a UFC contract in 2017 after successfully defending his WSOF title five times. Though ‘The Highlight’ claimed the prestigious BMF belt, his quest for the championship was derailed when he faced Khabib Nurmagomedov—Islam Makhachev‘s mentor—at UFC 254. Now, after years of fighting at the top, Gaethje finds himself back in the title picture, ready to challenge another Dagestani. So, what makes the Arizona export the rightful contender for the next title shot? Let’s hear it directly from him.

Justin Gaethje Responds to Critics Over Title Shot Favoritism Against Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev, in his nearly decade-long UFC career, has battled almost every top lightweight contender, with the notable exception of Justin Gaethje. His previous opponents, Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, are still in line for a shot at the current champion. Oliveira squared off with Makhachev at UFC 280, while Tsarukyan faced him back in 2019. The two will meet again, but Oliveira had to withdraw from his UFC 294 bout with the Dagestani prospect after suffering an eye injury during training.

Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski took his place. Tsarukyan, initially slated to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, had to pull out due to a back injury during his weight cut, which led to #9-ranked Renato Moicano stepping in. Now, Justin Gaethje has emerged as the UFC’s next best option to challenge Makhachev. During the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, a reporter asked ‘The Highlight’, “Anyone wondering why you should get the shot over Arman or Charles?” Gaethje shut the question down, saying, “I don’t care. Argue with yourself.” Later in the conference, Gaethje also dismissed the idea of a potential “trilogy” with Dustin Poirier for the latter’s “last dance.”

What’s your opinion on a potential Justin Gaethje vs Islam Makhachev fight? Is this the matchup fans are eager to see, or should the UFC prioritize long-awaited bouts with Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira? Now, with Ilia Topuria also making a push for a title shot, who do you think should face the reigning lightweight champion next? Share your thoughts below!