Justin Gaethje has made it clear that he has no interest in giving Ilia Topuria an immediate rematch following their brutal showdown at UFC Freedom 250.
Gaethje delivered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when he stopped Topuria in the main event on the White House lawn to become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion. While Topuria entered the fight as the favorite, Gaethje’s relentless pressure and damaging strikes gradually turned the tide in his favor.
The former champion suffered severe facial damage throughout the contest, including a broken orbital bone that ultimately prevented him from continuing. After four grueling rounds, Topuria remained on his stool, forcing his corner to stop the fight before the fifth round began.
Speaking during an appearance on the “JRE MMA Show,” Justin Gaethje dismissed any suggestion that Topuria deserves an immediate title shot.
“I can’t say that I have a name,” Gaethje said. “[Ilia] doesn’t get a rematch. He can try, but he doesn’t get one. He quit on the stool. I stopped him twice. What else do I have to f*cking do? His next challenge can’t be me. He needs to fight Paddy or someone like that.”
While the debate over a rematch continues, Justin Gaethje believes the circumstances surrounding the fight leave little room for discussion. From his perspective, the result was decisive, and Topuria needs to earn another shot at the title.
Gaethje also questioned whether Topuria will be able to return to the same dominant form that made him one of the sport’s most feared fighters.
“The odds are f*cking great against that right now,” Gaethje said. “I hope he does [bounce back], and I know he has the skill to be a champion again.
“Before this, he was the guy you couldn’t get through, that you couldn’t push through, that you couldn’t survive with. Once I showed people that all you’ve got to do is get through that, nobody is ever going to go in there thinking he’s unbeatable now. And that was his identity.”
The lightweight champion compared the situation to his victory over Tony Ferguson, suggesting that a fighter’s aura can change after a devastating defeat.
Topuria appeared close to securing a finish in the second round after hurting Gaethje with body shots and threatening with submissions. However, Gaethje weathered the storm and capitalized when the momentum shifted.
As the fight progressed, Topuria’s condition worsened. His eyes were badly swollen, and his face showed the damage from Gaethje’s sustained attack. Despite surviving into the championship rounds, he was unable to continue after the fourth round.
Reflecting on the finish, Justin Gaethje stood firm in his belief that the fight had already been stopped before the official corner retirement.
“He wanted out,” Gaethje said. “You know for a fact, you do not ever, as a fighter, say, ‘I cannot see.’ It’s over.
“I stopped him twice. I stopped him twice that night. There’s no doubt about it.”
As for his own future, Justin Gaethje has not completely ruled out retirement. Following the biggest victory of his career, the newly crowned champion admitted he is leaning toward continuing his fighting career, although no decision has been finalized.
“Right now, I’m planning on it,” Gaethje said. “There’s not something natural in me that feels like it’s over.”
If Gaethje decides to remain active, several contenders are waiting in the wings. Many fans believe Arman Tsarukyan deserves the next title opportunity, while others continue to push for a rematch with Topuria.
