Justin Gaethje: Lightweight Division Became ‘Laughingstock of the UFC’ After Khabib’s Exit

After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired, Justin Gaethje wasn’t pleased with the direction the UFC took with the lightweight division.

In recent months, the former World Series of Fighting champion has voiced his displeasure with the Las Vegas-based promotion. That frustration reached its peak when Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler were booked to fight for the vacant 155-pound belt at UFC 262 this past May. That was in part because Dustin Poirier elected to pursue a lucrative trilogy bout against Conor McGregor, but Gaethje, who was coming off a defeat to Nurmagomedov at UFC 254, was left out of the title picture entirely.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Gaethje says he has mended fences with the UFC after signing a contract extension. The 32-year-old Genesis Training Center product is scheduled to lock horns with Chandler at UFC 268 on Nov. 11, while Poirier seems destined to challenge Oliveira for lightweight gold in the future.

“I was probably more bitter at the opportunity that he (Chandler) got in favor of me,” Gaethje told ESPN. “I was pissed off at the time. I thought this was the most coveted title in the UFC when Khabib was around, and it was turned into almost the laughing stock of the UFC overnight.

“When you had Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler fighting each other for the title to be the best, when those two weren’t the best guys fighting for the belt. It was me and [Dustin] Poirier, is who should be have been fighting for the belt, No. 1, No. 2. That’s what should’ve happened.”

Gaethje still isn’t convinced that Oliveira is the top lightweight in the promotion, either. If he can get past Poirier, then he’ll be a believer.

“As soon as Poirier fights Oliveira, if Oliveira beats him and really solidifies himself as the best – right now he’s not the best,” Gaethje said. “Right now he still has some quit in him, and he hasn’t been tested by the best guys. I think Chandler did do that, but it’s a very favorable matchup for Oliveira, so we’ll see. We’ll see how he handles Poirier. I can’t give him credit now, but if he goes out there and beats Poirier, I have no other choice but to give him the respect he deserves.”