Justin Gaethje Ends Ilia Topuria Rematch Talk, and Tsarukyan Is the One Who Benefits

Ilia Topuria has been lobbying hard for a second shot at the man who took his belt. Justin Gaethje just made it clear that’s not happening anytime soon.

Speaking on the Flagrant 2 Army podcast, Justin Gaethje ends Ilia Topuria rematch talk by saying plainly that Topuria has bigger problems to sort out before he’s earned another crack at the title. Instead, Gaethje pointed straight at the man who just delivered one of the biggest wins of UFC 331: Arman Tsarukyan.

Why Tsarukyan Gets the Call Instead

Gaethje’s reasoning isn’t personal, it’s practical. Tsarukyan has won six straight fights and sits at 11-2 in the UFC since 2019, a run that includes his recent first round elbow finish of Mauricio Ruffy. After years of being passed over for a title shot, a run like that is hard to ignore, and Gaethje seems to agree, choosing him over a rematch that would arguably sell better on paper.

If you want the full story of how Tsarukyan built the case for this shot, we broke down his win in our Tsarukyan knocks out Ruffy recap.

The McGregor Comparison Nobody Asked For

Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, took things a step further, telling Submission Radio he won’t let his client help turn Topuria into another Conor McGregor, someone who rides hype into a fight he isn’t ready for. Abdelaziz was blunt about the matchup itself too, saying he believes Gaethje beats Topuria nine times out of ten and simply has his number stylistically.

What’s Next

For now, Gaethje says he’s not in a rush. He’s planning to enjoy the rest of the year as champion before deciding on his next move, which leaves Topuria waiting and Tsarukyan as the clear frontrunner for the next shot at lightweight gold. It’s a sharp turn from the title picture we mapped out right after Gaethje first won the belt at UFC Freedom 250, and it shows just how quickly things can shift in this division.