Matt Brown scoffs at anybody telling Justin Gaethje he should retire now: ‘What we’re doing is prize fighting’

Matt Brown believes Justin Gaethje should capitalize on his newly won UFC lightweight title rather than retire, despite widespread suggestions that the fighter should walk away at the peak of his career.

Gaethje stunned the sport by upsetting Ilia Topuria at a UFC White House card event, finally achieving his long-stated dream of becoming undisputed UFC lightweight champion. The victory came as a massive upset, with Gaethje entering as a heavy underdog but surviving early adversity before systematically breaking down Topuria, forcing a stoppage after the fourth round.

While some observers—including fighters, fans, and analysts—have argued that Gaethje should retire immediately to preserve a storybook ending, Brown rejected that logic during an appearance on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. He emphasized that prize fighting is fundamentally about making money, and Gaethje's marketability has never been higher. "Justin's value is higher than it's ever been. Take advantage of this shit while you can," Brown said.

Brown argued that Gaethje's legacy, though cemented as one of the sport's most exciting competitors, does not yet place him among the all-time greats like Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, or Georges St-Pierre. Rather than viewing continued fighting as a risk to his standing, Brown sees it as an opportunity to add championship defenses and pursue high-profile rematches. Potential opponents like Arman Tsarukyan, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira represent winnable matchups that could elevate Gaethje's resume while generating substantial purses.

Brown advocated for Gaethje to rest briefly, then launch a title-defense run in 2027. "Those are winnable fights for him," Brown said, suggesting such a streak would create a new legacy layer—champion and dominant title defender—atop his existing status as must-see television and a bonus-machine excitement generator.