Champion Gaethje dismisses Topuria rematch talk and hints at retirement after title upset

Justin Gaethje has cast doubt on both a rematch with Ilia Topuria and his own fighting future, telling the FLAGRANT podcast that the Georgian star is simply too small for lightweight — and that Arman Tsarukyan, not Topuria, is next in line for a title shot.

Gaethje stopped Topuria at UFC White House to claim the UFC lightweight title in one of the most significant upsets in recent MMA history, handing Topuria the first loss of his professional career. Since the defeat, Topuria has accused Gaethje of loading his gloves before the fight — a claim the new champion dismissed outright.

“He honestly has to believe that I cheated, because if not, how could you do it again? I broke his face,” Gaethje said.

Gaethje went further, arguing that Topuria’s physical limitations at 155 pounds were the real explanation for the result. “I don’t think he’s a lightweight. I think he should go down. I think he can beat [Alexander] Volkanovski and be champion at featherweight. I don’t think he’ll ever be champion at lightweight. He can’t beat Arman [Tsarukyan]. He’s going to have a difficult time with Paddy [Pimblett].”

Topuria had moved up from featherweight — where he won and defended the UFC title — after knocking out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight belt. He is now pushing for an immediate rematch with Gaethje, but the champion is noncommittal about whether he will fight again at all.

“I haven’t made a decision,” Gaethje said. “But I am 37 years old. My first fight was 2008. I’ve had 40 fights, including my amateur fights. So I don’t know.”

Gaethje acknowledged the tension between his desire to protect his long-term health and the fact that he just delivered what he described as the best performance of his career. “I know that I also just performed better than I’ve ever performed, so I’m stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I have my faculties. I want to keep my faculties. I have nothing left to prove.”

If he does return, Gaethje mentioned Conor McGregor as a fight that appeals to him. He also revealed he no longer feels compelled to seek rematches with Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway — the last two men to beat him — given that Topuria knocked out both fighters before their paths could cross again.

“The fact that Ilia knocked out Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, which are the only two people who are still there that have beat me, I’m OK with those,” he said.