Justin Gaethje isn’t just downplaying a potential rematch with Ilia Topuria; he’s questioning whether the division is even the right fit for him long-term. Speaking on the Double Coverage podcast, Gaethje gave Topuria credit for his skill set while raising doubts about his future at 155 pounds.
“He is very skilled. I’m not sure he can stay at lightweight, but we’re gonna find out,” Gaethje said.
Justin Gaethje Points to a Size Disadvantage
The comment lands as a pointed observation rather than an insult, but it cuts at something real. Ilia Topuria built his reputation and his undefeated record almost entirely at featherweight, where his frame, speed, and power matched up favorably against the rest of the division. Lightweight is a different story. Moving up to 155 pounds put Topuria in the cage with naturally bigger, longer opponents for the first time in his UFC run, and in his second true test at the weight, he came up short in dramatic fashion.
How Justin Gaethje Exposed the Gap in Their Fight
At UFC Freedom 250, Justin Gaethje physically outlasted and outworked Ilia Topuria over four rounds, ultimately forcing a corner stoppage after Topuria suffered fractures to both orbital bones and a broken nose. Where Topuria had been the bigger, more powerful man for most of his featherweight career, he found himself on the receiving end of that dynamic against Gaethje, absorbing sustained damage in a way he rarely had to deal with at 145 pounds. Gaethje’s comments suggest he sees that size and durability gap as a real, ongoing issue for Topuria rather than a one-off result.
What’s Next
Whether Ilia Topuria proves Justin Gaethje wrong will depend on how he looks in his next lightweight outing. For now, Gaethje appears unconvinced that ‘El Matador’s’ undersized frame, relative to the rest of the 155-pound field, is built to hold up over a full title reign at the new weight class, regardless of how skilled he clearly is.
Also read: Colby Covington Backs Ilia Topuria’s Glove-Stuffing Claims: “It Looked Like an Off-Color Yellow”
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