Justin Gaethje is putting the brakes on any immediate conversation about a rematch with Ilia Topuria, at least for the time being.
“I’m not even talking about it. I mean, I’ll have this conversation with you as a fan of MMA, but not as like right now,” Gaethje said on the Double Coverage Podcast.
Justin Gaethje’s Injury Update
The reluctance to talk fight logistics comes down to where Justin Gaethje is physically right now. He revealed he’s still nursing multiple injuries from his UFC Freedom 250 war with Ilia Topuria, and healing is his current priority over any next-fight speculation.
“Just trying to let my knee bruise heal and my and my hand heal. And then I’m back,” Gaethje said.
The comments make clear that whatever Gaethje’s long-term plans are for the belt, they’re on hold until his body catches up.
A Shift From Justin Gaethje’s Comments a Day Earlier
The timing of this latest statement stands out given what Justin Gaethje said just a day prior. Responding to Topuria’s allegation that his gloves may have had “something weird” on them during their fight, Gaethje had indicated he wasn’t opposed to running it back, framing the accusation as something he’d be willing to settle in the cage rather than avoid. Now, with the injury update front and center, Gaethje appears to be steering the conversation away from a rematch entirely, at least until he’s fully healed, rather than committing to any specific plan for his next fight.
What This Means for the Lightweight Division
The comments add another layer of uncertainty to an already crowded lightweight title picture. With Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy set to headline the co-main event of UFC 331 with title implications on the line, and Ilia Topuria publicly campaigning for a second crack at Justin Gaethje, the champion’s own health and hesitation to commit to a timeline could end up shaping the division’s next move more than any single call-out.
Also read: Justin Gaethje Questions Whether Ilia Topuria Can Even Stay at Lightweight
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