Justin Gaethje heads into 2019 feeling quite dissatisfied. The UFC fighter believes that he has been disadvantaged by the system and is left with little recourse. Initially scheduled to face Al Iaquinta in a main event bout at UFC Fight Night, Gaethje found himself abandoned when Iaquinta withdrew to negotiate his contract.
Undeterred, Gaethje went on to swiftly defeat lower-ranked UFC fighter James Vick in the first round with a knockout. Meanwhile, Iaquinta successfully restructured his contract and went on to win a fight against Kevin Lee in December 2018, elevating his status in the rankings above Gaethje.
From Gaethje’s perspective, the disappointment extends beyond Iaquinta backing out of their initial fight. He is eager to reschedule the bout with Iaquinta, slated for March, though he understands the slim likelihood of Iaquinta agreeing to it. Expressing his frustration to ESPN, Gaethje emphasized feeling let down and undervalued, despite consistently delivering thrilling performances that capture fans’ attention.
Gaethje highlighted a lack of recognition for his efforts, contrasting with the bonus structures in other sports leagues like the NFL. While NFL players receive bonuses for their on-field achievements, Gaethje feels that his own high-stakes performances in the octagon go unrewarded.
