Justin Gaethje left no room for doubt on Sunday at the South Lawn of the White House. The lightweight star pulled out the undisputed UFC lightweight championship at UFC Freedom 250, handing Ilia Topuria his first career loss (17-1). The fight ended abruptly when Topuria could not answer the bell for the fifth round, officially going down as a corner stoppage TKO.
Ilia Topuria entered the bout pretty much confident, expecting an early finish in his move to the lightweight division. Instead, the ‘El Matador’ absorbed a heavy beating over 20 minutes. Gaethje established combinations of jabs and threw heavy punches that ultimately forced the stoppage after four brutal rounds. According to the judges, Justin Gaethje won 3 out of 4 rounds before the ultimate stoppage at the end of the 4th round.
The talk of an immediate rematch surfaced quickly among the fans. It was primarily due to Topuria’s status as a dominant former featherweight champion. ‘The Highlight’ wasted no time but chose to clear the air about the rematch during his post-fight media availability. The newly crowned lightweight king also pointed to the definitive nature of the finish and the severe physical toll the fight took on his opponent.
UFC commentator Michael Bisping asked Gaethje about the potential of an immediate rematch. Justin dismissed the scenario entirely.
I would say definitely not a rematch. I mean, I made him quit on the stool. It’s not like there was… You heard me, I think it was three to one. I’ve been in three rounds of one. Any election, that’s a domination.”
‘The Highlight’ showed respect for what Topuria accomplished at 145 pounds but made it clear the lightweight rivalry is settled. He highlighted the stark difference in their physical condition following the 25-minute main event slot.
I don’t want to say anything bad about this guy. He was a world champion. Um, but he is in the hospital right now. And I’m not, so…”
With Topuria forced to the sidelines to recover from significant facial damage, UFC matchmakers will now look toward the rest of the top five lightweight contenders to determine Gaethje’s first title defense.
Who Could Be Justin Gaethje’s Next Opponent for His First UFC Title Defense?
With Ilia Topuria sidelined following his corner stoppage loss, Justin Gaethje needs a fresh opponent for his first undisputed lightweight title defense. The 155-pound division is stacked, and three fighters hold clear claims to the next title shot.
Arman Tsarukyan sits at No. 2 in the rankings and easily has the strongest competitive argument. He tapped out Dan Hooker late last year and waited on the sidelines for the unification bout to play out.
Charles Oliveira is also in the picture. “Do Bronx” rebounded with a submission win over Mateusz Gamrot in Rio, moving up to No. 3. A Gaethje-Oliveira rematch does big pay-per-view numbers, and Gaethje has made no secret of wanting to avenge his 2022 submission loss to the Brazilian before retiring.
The UFC could also look at the winner of the upcoming UFC 329 co-main event in July. Paddy Pimblett faces Benoit Saint-Denis in Las Vegas — Saint-Denis knocked out Dan Hooker earlier this year, and Pimblett has been pushing for another crack at Gaethje since dropping a decision to him for the interim belt in January. If Paddy defeats Benoit Saint-Denis, the UFC may give him a chance to settle his loss with Justin Gaethje.
