Justin Gaethje’s striking is seen as so “dangerous” that this man thinks even Ilia Topuria could be tempted to take things to the bottom.
Topuria is a few months into his reign as UFC lightweight champion, but considerable uncertainty still surrounds his first challenger.
Since Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to gather the vacant crown at 155 kilos, three names have been staking their claims for the primary shot at unseating ‘El Matador’.
In a bid to push himself above Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett, Gaethje made the UFC a retirement ultimatum, threatening to walk away from the game if he doesn’t receive a title shot.
The American’s manager, for one, thinks there aren’t many higher fights across any division that the promotion could put together straight away.
Justin Gaethje’s manager wouldn’t be surprised to see Ilia Topuria grapple against him
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz provided an update on Gaethje’s status.
While nothing has been decided, the Egyptian revealed that the previous interim UFC lightweight champion and BMF titleholder is “sticking to his guns.”
Abdelaziz thinks he’s right to achieve this and may receive the primary shot at Topuria. And despite the Spaniard knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira consecutively, he thinks Gaethje is “too dangerous” for Topuria to strike with.
“It’s a automotive crash (fight),” Abdelaziz said.
“Whoever is gonna land first, is gonna fall asleep. That is my opinion.
“I believe Topuria might attempt to wrestle Justin, also,” Abdelaziz continued. “I believe Justin Gaethje is way too dangerous to simply stand in front of and throw punches.
“Justin is a really powerful striker, he’s very dangerous. Truthfully, it’s among the best fights you may make within the UFC.”
Ilia Topuria shouldn’t be expected to defend his UFC title until 2026
For now, talk of Topuria and Gaethje facing off next stays strictly speculation, especially after the most recent updates shut down any possibility of it going down later this 12 months.
After reports of Topuria’s manager hinting on the Gaethje fight and Renato Moicano revealing whispers of it going down at UFC 322 in November, Spanish reporter Alvaro Colmenero took to social media to make clear the status of each ‘El Matador’ and one other fighter from the country, Joel Alvarez.
“Lots of you will have written to me asking if it’s true that Joel Alvarez was fighting in Paris and Ilia Topuria in Latest York,” Colmenero wrote on X.
“So far as I do know, the reply is NO.
“I hope Joel can fight in October/November and Topuria in January/February,” he added.
That seemed to be corroborated when Topuria was absent from the announcement of a championship double header for UFC 322, featuring Islam Makhachev’s title challenge against Jack Della Maddalena within the essential event.