Matt Brown warns UFC could 'ruin Ilia Topuria's life' by rushing Gaethje rematch

Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown has raised serious concerns about the promotion fast-tracking a rematch between lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, arguing that another savage beating could do lasting psychological damage to the Georgian fighter.

The warning comes after veteran UFC commentator Jon Anik suggested the promotion is working towards an immediate rematch in 2027, once both fighters have recovered from their first meeting at UFC White House. Gaethje claimed the undisputed lightweight title that night in dominant fashion, forcing Topuria’s corner to throw in the towel after the fourth round following a prolonged and punishing assault.

“If I’m the UFC, I don’t think that’s a bad idea,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “It was obviously an amazing fight, and Justin Gaethje is always going to be a banger. I don’t think it’s ever a bad idea to put him in there with another guy that’s going to be a banger.”

But Brown quickly pivoted to the human cost of such a decision. Having read Topuria’s post-fight comments — in which the former champion reflected on looking at himself in the mirror and described the loss as life-changing — Brown believes the 27-year-old may need a confidence-rebuilding fight before facing Gaethje again.

“Does he need his confidence rebuilt?” Brown asked. “If you’re the UFC, do you want him to rebuild his confidence or do you want him to go in there and fight a guy like Gaethje again, who’s a f*cking dog? If that happens to Ilia again, as much of his soul left during that first fight, can he regain some of that soul if that happens again ever?”

Brown speaks from personal experience, having witnessed firsthand how some fighters never fully recover from a single catastrophic defeat, let alone two in succession against the same opponent. He described Gaethje as one of the most consistently damaging fighters in the sport’s history, making a repeat performance a genuine possibility rather than a remote risk.

“The downside of that fight — you might ruin Ilia Topuria’s life,” Brown said. “If that first fight repeats itself, I’m not sure Ilia comes back the same again.”

Brown stopped short of calling on the UFC to abandon the rematch entirely, acknowledging the commercial logic behind it. His argument is more nuanced: that the promotion should consult Topuria closely before committing to a fight that carries consequences well beyond a loss on his record.