Justin Gaethje Explains Why He Signed With UFC Over Bellator MMA
Former World Series Of Fighting Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje signed with the UFC a few months back and will face Michael Johnson in the main event of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale.
Even though the fighter received offers from other promotions like Bellator MMA, the former champ has a good reason why he chose the UFC in the end.
“Hindsight, of course, I knew I was going to get a chance to fight Michael Johnson or somebody in the top five, top six,” Gaethje said to MMA Junkie Radio. “As long as the money matched up, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I give Bellator respect. They wanted me, and they respectfully came and tried to do it. We talked a couple times. I like those guys over there. I have nothing but respect for them.”
Gaethje was the first and only WSOF Lightweight Champion, as the promotion recently morphed into the Professional Fighters League.
Although the former champion didn’t spend a lot of time as a free agent, the time period left him a little nervous.
“This is America, man. You’ve got to negotiate,” Gaethje said. “As soon as I was a free agent I was a little nervous.”
UFC Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale takes place on Friday, July 7 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Justin Gaethje and Michael Johnson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
