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Justin Gaethje says Ilia Topuria must prove himself before a rematch. | 📷: Getty/UFC
Justin Gaethje believes Ilia Topuria has to work his way back into title contention.
Gaethje challenged Topuria for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250. While Topuria was a massive betting favorite and nearly found a finish in the second round of their bout, Gaethje rallied to pile on the damage in the next two frames.
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The fight ultimately ended due to a corner stoppage before the final round and Gaethje was crowned the new undisputed champion. Topuria subsequently vowed to make amends in a rematch on social media, but the Georgian-Spaniard will need to return to the win column before another title shot, according to the new lightweight king.
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje says Ilia Topuria must return to the win column
Gaethje was recently asked if he would consider an immediate rematch against Topuria. “The Highlight” shut down the idea, doubting whether Topuria would even ask for an immediate rematch. The American believes Arman Tsarukyan is way more deserving of the next lightweight title shot and notes that he didn’t dispatch Topuria with a lucky shot. The UFC lightweight champion further added that Topuria hasn’t been seen much in public since the brutal loss.
“No, he’s not fighting me next,” Gaethje told RMC Sport Combat. “Why would he fight me next? Arman deserves it way more than him… I didn’t knock him out, I didn’t get lucky, I beat him up. He’s gonna have to get a win before he fights for a championship… He didn’t say he wanted a rematch. If he uses his mouth and says, ‘I want a rematch,’ I will be very surprised. We haven’t even seen him.”
Topuria (17-1) was undefeated with consecutive knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira before facing Gaethje (28-5). “El Matador” isn’t the only contender gunning for a rematch with Gaethje, with Paddy Pimblett and Holloway, who returned to winning ways at UFC 329, also in the running for a shot at the 155-pound title.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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