Justin Gaethje, one of the UFC's most electrifying fighters, has set a staggering price tag for a potential move to bare-knuckle boxing. Known for his all-action style that has earned him a post-fight bonus in every single one of his 15 UFC appearances, 'The Highlight' seems a natural fit for the raw brutality of BKFC. However, during an appearance at BKFC 88 in Denver, Gaethje revealed it would take a life-changing offer to make the leap, citing one very important person who would disapprove: his mother.

"Oh my god, I think my mom would kill me honestly," Gaethje joked in a clip posted by BKFC. "I'm a wrestler so when all else fails, I should go to wrestling... but 10 million." This massive figure underscores that for Gaethje, a switch to bare-knuckle fighting is a last-resort option, reserved for a financial offer too large to ignore.

This conversation about his fighting future comes at a pivotal moment in Gaethje's career. Fresh off capturing the interim lightweight title in a fight his coach said would have prompted retirement with a loss, Gaethje now looks ahead to a massive title unification bout against Ilia Topuria in June. Despite the high stakes, he has been candid about the timeline of his career, stating he expects to retire by mid-2027.

A devastating knockout, like the one he suffered against Max Holloway, could accelerate those plans. Yet, even a career-defining victory over Topuria might lead him to walk away. "I would never state publicly that I’d be done after that," Gaethje said, "but that would be a fight where if I accomplish that, if I am successful, then it would not be a dumb idea to not do it again." For now, fans can appreciate Gaethje's relentless style in the Octagon, knowing that any future in bare-knuckle boxing would come with a multimillion-dollar asterisk and a very unhappy mom.