Justin Gaethje is still processing what it means to finally hold undisputed UFC gold. After dominating Ilia Topuria at UFC White House until the corner threw in the towel, Gaethje sat down with The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday to reflect on the moment and lay out what comes next.
Justin Gaethje Soaks In Becoming Champion
Gaethje described the entire White House setting and production as elevating an already massive night, explaining that even he is still struggling to fully grasp the achievement after twice falling short in previous title fights. He shared that when his father asked how it felt waking up as champion for the first time, he genuinely had not processed it yet, calling the whole experience “absolutely insane.”
For a 37-year-old who openly admitted this was likely his last real shot at undisputed gold, that emotional weight tracks.
The Timing Behind a Perfect Performance
Breaking down the win itself, Gaethje credited his command of distance and timing as the difference maker, explaining how he was constantly resetting Topuria’s feet and dissipating incoming strikes rather than absorbing them directly.
He pointed to his ability to stay cerebral under danger, comparing his in-fight processing to running calculations in real time. Gaethje also noted that going in without expectations kept him from ever being surprised, while Topuria, he believes, took the opposite approach and paid for it as the fight progressed into deeper rounds.
When Will Justin Gaethje Fight Again?
As for his future, Gaethje has not made a final call on retirement, but he was direct about the realistic timeline. Having already competed twice in 2026, he made clear that fighting a third time this year is not something fans should expect, given how physically taxing this stretch of his career has been. That puts any potential title defense, including the increasingly discussed matchup with Conor McGregor, firmly into 2027 territory at the earliest.
Also read: Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria Hit With Brutal 180 Day Medical Suspensions After UFC Freedom 250
About The Author
