“Whatever the F*ck He Wants”: Dan Hooker Backs Justin Gaethje to Choose His Next Fight but Predicts Pimblett Rematch

Gaethje defeated Pimblett in an interim lightweight title fight via unanimous decision at UFC 324 in January. He then unified it against champion Ilia Topuria. 

Heavy favorite and undefeated Topuria was touted to beat Gaethje, but the latter turned the tables. The American star defeated Topuria via a fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Now he is on the sidelines for his first title defense, and Hooker has read on what happens next. 

Dan Hooker Says Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje 2 Could Be Next

Justin Gaethje has confirmed he won’t make a return in 2026. He recently revealed his hands are not fully recovered from the Topuria fight. Meanwhile, Topuria is recovering from the damage taken in the fight. 

Considering the unclear timeline of the champion’s return, Hooker, in an interview with Submission Radio, said, "He's the champ, he can do whatever the f**k he wants. Some champs can't, but Justin Gaethje can. For sure they're just sliding Paddy Pimblett into a title fight, that's probably what they're gonna do." 

Interestingly, even if the champion takes some time off to recover, the lightweight division can still move forward. It features some of the best fighters in the promotion, and several fights are already scheduled to build momentum for the next title bout. 

The Lightweight Scenario

With the champion and ex-champion on the path to recovery, UFC has set #2 Arman Tsarukyan and #10 Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Although not officially announced, it most probably seems like the winner of this fight will receive a title shot next. 

After the Gaethje loss, Paddy Pimblett has also bounced back in the win column with a stunning first-round finish of Benoit Saint Denis. He also appears to be a viable title contender. 

But Gaethje has already denied a rematch with both Pimblett and Topuria. He wants a massive fight next. Thus, it is too early to say. However, the lightweight division consists of killers, and matching anyone against Gaethje will invariably result in an exciting match-up.