Justin Gaethje is Definitely Competing at the UFC White House Event: “Unless I’m dead”
Justin Gaethje is riding high after his Paddy Pimblett victory, and the patriotic American aims to parlay it into a spot on the UFC’s hotly discussed White House card for the Summer. Gaethje is now the only two-time interim champion in UFC history after besting Pimblett on January 24th and has punched his ticket to fight divisional kingpin Ilia Topuria at a later date.
At the UFC 324 post-fight press conference, the ex-BMF champion touched upon his idealized vision for when that lightweight title unification bout could transpire, Gaethje said,
“I definitely need some time off. He f***in rocked my brain a couple times, and the only thing we have over the more dangerous sports, which is boxing and football, is we get to take time, so I will do that. But the White House is in June and I represent this country.”
“I represented it tonight and I hope to be [on that card] – obviously, look at the position and opportunity they just gave me here. There’s no way they’re keeping me off that card unless I’m dead.”
When asked a follow-up question by an on-site reporter regarding what lies ahead for him, against the sidelined two-division UFC champion who now looms large over 155 pounds, Gaethje stated,
“Can’t wait [for fighting Ilia next]. It’s what I got here for, that’s what we do. And of course that’s what I believe the next fight is, unless he’s not back.”
Justin Gaethje refuses Dana White’s request following 2nd UFC interim title win
Justin Gaethje was someone that Dana White wanted to see take, at least a precautionary trip to the hospital following his big win over ‘The Baddy’ but Gaethje was not having it. While Paddy Pimblett went to the hospital following the five-round barnburner of a bout, Gaethje, who is far more seasoned within these kinds of iconic dog fights, told the company figurehead he was good and used his anecdotal experience in these battles to assess that.
Dana White mentioned this in the UFC 324 post-fight press conference and spoke on how Gaethje was apparently a hundred percent following his victory in the first headlining fight of UFC’s new media rights deal with Paramount.
