Hold up, fight fans. Jon Anik, the literal voice of the UFC, just dropped a bombshell: there are “internal conversations” brewing for an immediate rematch between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria. Yeah, you read that right. The very same Topuria who got absolutely rocked, suffering both orbital bones broken by Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 back in June, could be running it back for the lightweight title sooner than anyone thought.
Gaethje Pulled the Upset, But the Story Isn’t Over
Remember UFC Freedom 250? Gaethje (28-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) pulled off a stunning upset, dethroning Topuria and snatching that lightweight belt. It wasn’t just a win, it was a brutal display, leaving Topuria (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) seriously injured. For a while, it seemed like Gaethje might even walk away, saying he may never fight again after that massive win. But he walked those comments back pretty quick, now eyeing a return in 2027. Meanwhile, Topuria finally spoke out for the first time since the devastating loss, and now Anik is hearing “rumblings” of an immediate title-fight rematch.
Anik went on his “Anik Bros” YouTube channel and basically laid it all out. He’s wondering aloud, and we all should be too, why promoters wouldn’t want to put Topuria back in a championship setting. I mean, UFC Freedom 250 was HUGE, right? You’d think they’d want to capitalize on that energy. While Paddy Pimblett is an “obvious foundation” for Topuria’s next fight, Anik thinks there’s “strong consideration” to get Topuria right back into a title shot. He even speculated that if Arman Tsarukyan beats Mauricio Ruffy and finishes him, that fight could happen “expeditiously.”
Show Money Speaks Louder Than Retirement Talk
So, what about Gaethje? He initially dismissed fighting Topuria again, then talked retirement, and now he’s targeting a 2027 comeback. Anik isn’t buying that retirement talk much, saying he thinks Gaethje is “far more concerned with his show money than he is with who he’s actually fighting.” Harsh, maybe, but hey, the man’s gotta eat, and big fights mean big paydays. Anik even thought Gaethje’s mom might tell him to go out on a high note after such a wild win! But manager Ali Abdelaziz’s word suggests Gaethje is definitely fighting again.
Anik’s “non-informed speculation,” as he put it, is that Gaethje vs. Topuria 2 would be “absolutely enormous.” And honestly, who isn’t hyped by that idea? Two absolute warriors, with history and an injury storyline, fighting for the belt again? That’s what we live for. While we don’t know Topuria’s exact timeline, Anik predicts this rematch is what’s going to happen. And if it does, the entire fight world will be buzzing. Get ready, because it sounds like we’re in for another wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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