Justin Gaethje has shared his thoughts on facing the new UFC Lightweight Champion, Ilia Topuria, including a specific time and place he envisions the potential clash taking place.
Despite holding a 0-2 record in previous undisputed title bouts, the former interim lightweight and BMF champion, Gaethje, is hopeful that a third opportunity against the recently crowned Ilia Topuria will result in championship glory.
Topuria secured the lightweight title last weekend with a dominant first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Gaethje was in attendance cageside, but he was notably not called out or offered a face-off by Topuria, who instead interacted with Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan.
Feeling that his recent performances, including winning three out of his last four fights, have earned him a title shot, Gaethje had previously suggested he might consider retirement if the opportunity wasn`t presented. However, his chances seem promising, as Topuria’s manager has reportedly identified Gaethje as the leading contender to challenge ‘El Matador’ next.
Widely regarded as a potentially difficult stylistic matchup for Topuria due to his devastating leg kicks, Gaethje recently offered his initial assessment of the new champion.
Gaethje Targets Madison Square Garden for Potential KO of Topuria
With his heavy hands and action-packed style, which could potentially see him earn substantial performance bonuses, Gaethje is arguably one of the most electrifying fighters currently competing in the UFC.
However, Topuria recently downplayed the former BMF champion`s status, stating he didn`t consider him a `legend` and expressed limited interest in fighting him immediately after his win over Oliveira.
Given this dynamic, what are the thoughts of the highly credentialed Gaethje regarding the lightweight division`s latest knockout artist?
Speaking before UFC 317, Gaethje acknowledged Topuria as “the big name right now” during an interview while surfing with Austin Keen.
Describing Topuria, Gaethje stated he was “Cocky,” noting that Topuria`s confidence was backed up by correctly predicting a first-round knockout victory over Oliveira.
Gaethje then shared his personal desire for the potential fight: “I would love to knock him out…”
He elaborated, saying he had hoped the UFC 317 main event would result in a knockout and that he would like to fight the winner in November at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This venue is a frequent destination for the UFC in the fall, and it holds significance for Gaethje, being the site of his “2021 Fight of the Year” against Michael Chandler at UFC 268.
Gaethje`s recent form is strong, coming off a dominant performance against top contender Rafael Fiziev in March at UFC 313, following the withdrawal of his originally scheduled opponent Dan Hooker.
Topuria`s Trend of Facing Fan Favorites Could Continue with Gaethje
Although Topuria did not call out Gaethje immediately after claiming his second title, `The Highlight` fits the profile of his last three opponents.
Topuria has successfully defeated fan-favorite fighters such as Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski in succession, adding high-profile names to his resume.
Gaethje himself is recognized as one of the UFC’s most dangerous knockout artists, boasting an impressive list of victories against notable opponents including Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Rafael Fiziev (twice), Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, and Donald Cerrone, among others.
Should Topuria defend his title against Gaethje and secure another knockout victory, it would undoubtedly ignite discussions about whether the lightweight champion has achieved one of the most impressive four-fight winning streaks in UFC history.
