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As per his manager Ali Abdelaziz, UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje wants a big fight for his next outing in the cage.

At UFC Freedom 250, Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria to claim the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. While many spent a good few weeks dissecting how exactly he made that happen, others looked to the future.

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Gaethje has a handful of really interesting challengers that he could face off against at 155 pounds, but given his age and how long he’s been in the game, retirement is always a possibility – especially when you consider just how much damage he has taken in his career.

According to Ali Abdelaziz, if Gaethje does return next year, then he wants to do so for a big fight.

Gaethje’s manager discusses his future

“(In) 2027 we will see Justin Gaethje fighting,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “He fought two times this year. He deserves the time off. He’s still the lightweight champion, undisputed, and I think all these guys have to chase him. But he wants to be in a big fight – a big, big fight. What is the big fight? Who decides that? It’s Dana White who decides what’s the biggest fight they can make.”

“If he retired today, I will be so happy because he did everything,” Abdelaziz said. “And if he wants to choose to fight one more time, he can fight one more time because nobody tells him what to do. He’s the boss. At the end of the day, it just has to be a massive fight.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

What would you like to see next for Gaethje following his incredible UFC world title win? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

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