Matt Brown Defends Justin Gaethje Against Retirement Calls as Experts Weigh the Long-Term Cost of MMA

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Matt Brown Chris Unger | Zuffa LLC Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pocket Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown has defended Justin Gaethje against growing calls for retirement, arguing that competing in high-risk combat sports inevitably comes with physical consequences that fighters knowingly accept. Brown dismissed suggestions that Gaethje should step away from mixed martial arts because of the punishment he has absorbed throughout his career, emphasizing that professional fighters understand the risks involved when they choose to continue competing. “What we’re doing is prize fighting,” Brown said while discussing the criticism directed at Gaethje.

Brown’s remarks come as Gaethje remains one of the UFC’s top lightweight contenders and separate reports indicate he is expected to compete for the lightweight title against Khabib Nurmagomedov, renewing interest in one of the division’s most memorable rivalries. While discussions about Gaethje’s future continue among fans, Brown argued that retirement decisions ultimately belong to the athlete rather than outside observers.

According to MMA Fighting, Brown rejected the idea that fans or commentators should decide when Gaethje retires, stressing that fighters enter the sport fully aware of the physical demands involved. “Anybody telling Justin Gaethje he should retire now… what we’re doing is prize fighting,” Brown said, explaining that accepting risk is inherent to pursuing success in professional combat sports. He added that elite fighters are motivated by competition and championships, even when they understand the sacrifices required.

Separately, reports have indicated that Gaethje is expected to face Khabib Nurmagomedov in a championship rematch, several years after their first meeting ended in a submission victory for Nurmagomedov. The reported bout has generated renewed discussion about Gaethje’s career, but Brown’s comments focused primarily on defending the veteran’s decision to continue fighting rather than analyzing the matchup itself.

According to a recent review published in the National Institutes of Health, mixed martial arts exposes athletes to a broad range of injuries because it combines striking, wrestling, grappling, and submission techniques. Common injuries include facial lacerations, fractures, ligament sprains and tears, joint dislocations, hand injuries, shoulder injuries, knee injuries, and concussions, with the head and face among the most frequently injured areas during competition. Repetitive training and repeated impacts can also contribute to overuse injuries affecting muscles, tendons, and joints.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine states that appropriate coaching, proper technique, protective practices during training, and prompt medical evaluation following injuries can help reduce injury risk, although combat sports inherently involve significant physical contact.

Repeated blows to the head remain a particular concern because, according to the Mayo Clinic, long-term exposure to repetitive head impacts has been associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease that currently can only be definitively diagnosed after death. Importantly, not every athlete exposed to repeated head impacts develops CTE, and researchers continue studying why some individuals are affected while others are not. Maintaining physical conditioning, reporting symptoms early, and allowing adequate recovery after injuries are all important for protecting long-term health.

Brown’s defense of Gaethje highlights an ongoing discussion throughout combat sports about balancing competitive ambition with long-term health. While professional fighters willingly accept significant physical risks in pursuit of championships, informed decisions about training, medical care, and retirement remain essential throughout an athlete’s career.

For both professional and recreational athletes, the discussion serves as a reminder that protecting the body begins with proper preparation, honest reporting of injuries, and adherence to medical advice. Maintaining strength and conditioning, allowing adequate recovery after competition, and avoiding a premature return following injuries can help reduce preventable harm while supporting long-term physical and neurological health.