In Brief
- Justin Gaethje, the new lightweight champion, rules out an immediate rematch with Ilia Topuria, whom he beat at UFC Freedom 250.
- The American believes Arman Tsarukyan has a stronger claim to the next title fight.
- Topuria has not publicly asked for a rematch since his loss.
Justin Gaethje believes Ilia Topuria must first earn his way back up the rankings before claiming another title shot. The UFC’s new lightweight champion has ruled out an immediate rematch with the Georgian-Spanish fighter, whom he beat in their UFC Freedom 250 clash.
“Arman Deserves It Far More Than Him”
Asked about a possible immediate rematch with Topuria, Gaethje dismissed the idea, even doubting the Georgian-Spanish fighter actually wants it. “No, he’s not fighting me next. Why would he fight me next? Arman deserves it far more than him (…) I didn’t knock him out by luck, I didn’t get him by a fluke, I dominated him. He’s going to have to go get a win before fighting for a title (…) He hasn’t even said he wants a rematch. If he opens his mouth and says ‘I want a rematch,’ I’ll be very surprised. We haven’t even seen him since,” Gaethje told RMC Sport Combat.
The American champion believes Arman Tsarukyan, long considered the division’s number one contender before Topuria’s reign, is better positioned to get the next lightweight title fight. If that holds, it would push back any hope of an immediate rematch for the Georgian-Spanish fighter even further.
A Loss That Ended a Three-Fight KO Streak
In their fight at UFC Freedom 250, Topuria (17 wins, 1 loss), the overwhelming favorite and author of three straight KO wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, had come close to a finish in the second round. But Gaethje (28 wins, 5 losses) turned the tide by piling on damage over the next two rounds, until his corner stopped the fight before the final round, crowning the American the division’s new undisputed champion.
That setback ended the aura of invincibility that had surrounded Topuria since he reached the top of the featherweight division, then moved up to lightweight. His loss, the first of his professional career, surprised much of the MMA community, who had considered him one of the sport’s most dominant pound-for-pound fighters before that fight.
Gaethje’s road to this title also reflects a long journey: after several failed attempts to capture the undisputed belt, notably against Khabib Nurmagomedov, the American had to wait before seizing his chance against Topuria. His win at UFC Freedom 250 is thus seen as the culmination of a career defined by spectacular fights more than a rapid accumulation of titles.
For Topuria, the stakes go beyond the sporting question alone: staying silent since his loss fuels speculation about his next move, whether a comeback fight against a ranked opponent or a long break before repositioning himself in a division he had dominated outright just months earlier.
Several Contenders Lying in Wait
Topuria is not the only contender hoping for a title fight with Gaethje: Paddy Pimblett and Max Holloway, who returned to the win column at UFC 329, are also among the names mentioned for the lightweight belt. The American champion will therefore have to navigate a particularly stacked division in choosing his next opponent, in a context where Tsarukyan remains, by his own account, the most deserving candidate.
Gaethje has not yet announced a date for his title defense, but his comments draw a clear line: without a signature win, Topuria will have to wait for his rematch, even though his status as the division’s undisputed veteran continues to weigh on discussions about the next championship fight.
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