One of the biggest talking points in MMA right now is who Justin Gaethje will face once he recovers from the injuries he sustained at UFC Freedom 250. “The Highlight” enjoyed a massive night on June 14, battering Ilia Topuria before forcing the Spaniard to quit on his stool at the end of the fourth round.
Although Gaethje initially ruled out an immediate rematch, his stance has seemingly softened since then. However, the lightweight champion is yet to make a decision about his future and remains uncertain about whether he wants to compete again.
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Meanwhile, Topuria has hinted at an April 2027 return in his first interview since the White House event. He also recently asked his Instagram followers whether they would rather see him run it back with Gaethje or settle his long-running rivalry with Paddy Pimblett.
The results heavily favored a rematch with Gaethje. However, Ali Abdelaziz believes fans shouldn’t get their hopes up, as he doesn’t see that fight happening.
Ali Abdelaziz Admits Ilia Topuria’s Recent Career Revelation Was True
Topuria recently took to Instagram to ask his followers which opponent they wanted to see him face next. After 24 hours, Gaethje came out on top, receiving 474,000 votes compared to Pimblett’s 385,000.
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However, just a day after the results came in, Gaethje’s manager made it clear that his client has no interest in sharing the Octagon with the Spaniard again. Abdelaziz took to X and wrote, “This rematch will never happen. I agree with him – his brother saved his life.”
The comment was a reference to Topuria recently revealing that his brother, Aleksandre, saved both his fighting career and his life by stepping in and calling the fight at the end of Round 4 on June 14.
Abdelaziz further explained why he believes Gaethje won’t entertain a second meeting with the former champion. He added, “It’s very hard to come back from the trauma of a fight like that. I’ve seen Justin do this to many people, and coming back wasn’t easy for them. Wishing him the best of luck.”
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It certainly sounds like Gaethje’s camp has little interest in revisiting the matchup. However, the lightweight champion won’t be short of potential opponents if he decides to return.
Arman Tsarukyan is waiting in the wings for another shot at UFC gold after finishing Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. The victory was so convincing that even Gaethje acknowledged him as the division’s true No. 1 contender.
Alexander Volkanovski has also floated the idea of facing Gaethje for the lightweight title in what could be a retirement fight for both the veterans.
With several intriguing options on the table, Gaethje’s next move remains uncertain. Whether he chooses to defend his title, pursue a different matchup, or walk away from the sport altogether, his decision will have major implications for the lightweight division.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
