Despite acknowledging that he is now in the back end of his career, Justin Gaethje is not ready to hang up his gloves any time soon. Following comments he made after beating Rafael Fiziev earlier this year, in which he stated he wanted one more shot at the title and that he would not be in the game for much longer, Gaethje has admitted that emotions were high at the time and that he shouldn’t be taken at his word. However, he did confirm that by the age of 37, he would like to retire from the sport.

Gaethje is now preparing for a rematch with Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 291. A win could secure another shot at the UFC title, but ultimately, his decision to retire is based on timing. He wants to retire at the “just the right moment”, meaning as soon as he believes that he can no longer be the best in the world with his current skills, he sees no reason to continue fighting.

Despite his high-risk non-stop style, Gaethje considers himself the most exciting fighter in the history of the sport, with 11 career post-fight bonuses. He has taken more damage than most, but long-term health is not a concern for him, as he sees it as a risk he has voluntarily undertaken.