Chael Sonnen can see a scenario in which Justin Gaethje has another interim title Saturday.
And if that winds up being the case at UFC 324, the former UFC title challenger, now analyst, is a little conflicted about what that might mean for the UFC’s lightweight division.
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UFC 324 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is the UFC’s debut on Paramount+. In the headliner, Paddy Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) for the interim lightweight title. Champion Ilia Topuria is taking time off for personal reasons. Saturday’s main event winner is expected to fight Topuria later this year to unify the belts.
Gaethje had a highly publicized demand for his next fight: If it wasn’t for a title, he was all but certainly going to walk away from the UFC. By making an interim belt when Topuria asked for time away, the UFC technically satisfied his demands.
But given Gaethje already was talking about walking away, Sonnen said he’s concerned about the 37-year-old’s mind frame.
“I’m going to say yes, I think Justin puts the gloves down (if he loses),” Sonnen told MMA. Junkie. “And that concerns me, by the way. When a guy starts talking that way, historically speaking, it doesn’t go their way. But not every time. You do have to wonder, why is he speaking that way?
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“It’s the famous story of burning the ships. You burn your ships because you have to conquer the country and can’t go back. Sometimes the athlete has to put themselves in a position of urgency. I think that’s what Justin’s doing, or at least attempting to do. I don’t think he wants to be done. I think he wants to win that belt and go defend it a couple of times.”
Gaethje has 14 post-fight bonuses in 14 UFC fights – a statistic that is nearly unfathomable. It’s what has led to UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik calling him “your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter,” owing to the Denver-based Gaethje’s promise of fast-paced stand-and-bang proverbial wars.
But Sonnen portends that if Gaethje doesn’t truly think he can get that belt again – which is what the case is likely to be with a loss to the brash Pimblett – it begs the question of why the fight’s happening to begin with.
“This is cutthroat, but it’s a cutthroat business. I really like Justin. I like to be respectful when I speak of Justin. There would be no reason to fight anymore,” Sonnen said. “The UFC is for people who are champions or are future champions – at least in theory. There are exceptions. But once you prove, ‘I no longer qualify as that; I for sure am not going to be champion,’ in theory, your time is then done.
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“Justin Gaethje could get more fights, but I don’t know if he would want that. He is a true competitor. He wants to be champion. … What are they going to do if Gaethje wins? The press conferences and telling the story and, ‘Why are we here?’ I need that as a fan. I’ve seen enough cage fights. I need to know, ‘Why are we here? Why does this matter?'”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Sonnen has mixed feelings about Justin Gaethje’s post-UFC 324 plans
