Justin Gaethje Wants Higher-Ranked Opponent, Promises to ‘Retire’ Al Iaquinta

Justin Gaethje is coming off two hugely impressive knockout wins over Edson Barboza and James Vick and fans are eager to hear when “The Highlight” will be in action next.

Gaethje has yet to announce when he’ll be fighting next or who he wants as his next opponent, but has stated that he is targeting his next fight against a higher-ranked fighter, which would include the likes of Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor or Tony Ferguson with champion Khabib Nurmagomdeov currently scheduled to fight the interim champion Dustin Poirier in September at UFC 242.

Speaking to theScore MMA recently, the 30-year-old defended his decision to wait for a fight against a higher-ranked opponent, saying he has earned his spot in the rankings and is patiently waiting for a phone call from UFC matchmakers.

“Just waiting. I’ve got to be patient,” Gaethje said. “I don’t want to take people [ranked] behind me. And I’ve earned a spot. I’ve earned my spot, and I want to fight someone ranked ahead of me. I’ve earned that.”

Despite Gaethje stating he only wants a higher ranked opponent next, he is willing to overlook this if the UFC matches him against Al Iaquinta, whom he was scheduled to fight back at UFC Lincoln last August.

“I’ll never pass up an Al Iaquinta fight. I’m going to f--- him up one of these days,” Gaethje said. “I told him that he will not get out of here… unless he just gets out now. But I’m gonna fight him.

“He signed to fight me, he backed out, sent me some personal messages saying, ‘Let’s work together,’” Gaethje continued. “So I don’t play that game. I’m trying to f------ kill that dude. Figuratively, not literally, for court reasons. But, yeah, I don’t like him. I think he’s a douchebag.”

Gaethje claims the bad blood between the pair is real, and promised he would end Iaquinta’s career if the pair were ever to meet.

“I will retire that man. I promise you. I promise you I am going to retire that man,” Gaethje said.