Justin Gaethje has questioned Ilia Topuria’s chances of becoming UFC lightweight champion again, saying he believes the former champion is better suited to the featherweight division. Gaethje, who defeated Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June to capture the undisputed lightweight title, made the comments during an appearance on the FLAGRANT podcast.
Topuria entered the fight against Gaethje without a professional loss. The Georgian-born Spanish fighter had previously won the UFC featherweight title before moving up to lightweight and claiming the vacant 155-pound belt. His run at lightweight, however, ended when Gaethje's corner stoppage victory handed Topuria the first defeat of his professional career.
Gaethje Believes Topuria Is Too Small For Lightweight
Gaethje's main argument is that Topuria may simply be undersized for the UFC lightweight division. “I don't think he's a lightweight, I think he should go down,” Gaethje said on FLAGRANT. He added that he believes Topuria could challenge successfully at featherweight, even suggesting that he could beat Alexander Volkanovski and become champion again at 145 pounds.
But when it comes to the lightweight division, Gaethje does not see the same path for Topuria. “I don't think he'll ever be champion at lightweight,” he said.
Gaethje also pointed to the depth of the 155-pound division. He mentioned Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett as fighters who could present difficult matchups for Topuria.
Topuria's First UFC Defeat Came Against Gaethje
The comments come a little more than three months after Gaethje and Topuria met in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. Topuria had moved to lightweight after vacating his featherweight title and later won the vacant 155-pound championship. His victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 had made him a two-division UFC champion.
Against Gaethje, however, Topuria's unbeaten run came to an end. Gaethje won by TKO via corner stoppage at the end of the fourth round and became the undisputed UFC lightweight champion. The result also changed the lightweight title picture. Gaethje is now listed by UFC as the active lightweight champion, with a 28-5-0 professional record.
Topuria Wants Another Chance
Despite the loss, Topuria has made it clear that he wants to return to competition and has pushed for another fight with Gaethje. That has added another layer to the situation, particularly because Gaethje has not committed to an immediate rematch.
Gaethje has also spoken about the physical cost of his career. At 37, he said he has already competed extensively since turning professional in 2008 and wants to take time to recover before deciding what comes next.
For now, the lightweight division has several names in the title picture. Arman Tsarukyan is ranked highly after his September 19 victory over Mauricio Ruffy, while Paddy Pimblett is also among the leading contenders.
What Happens Next For Ilia Topuria?
Gaethje's prediction is just that — his assessment of Topuria's future, not an established fact. Topuria is still only 29 and remains listed as an active UFC fighter. Before his loss to Gaethje, he had built an impressive record that included championship victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Whether Topuria remains at lightweight or eventually returns to featherweight will be an important decision for his next chapter. For now, Gaethje believes the lighter division could offer Topuria a clearer route back to UFC gold, while he remains doubtful that the Spaniard can regain the lightweight championship.
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