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SportsQuiet 4d · day 11

Gaethje rules out Topuria rematch as feud intensifies post-defeat

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and his manager Ali Abdelaziz shut down Ilia Topuria's rematch demands after his June loss.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 2h ago18 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Topuria's rematch demand has been definitively rejected by Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz, who says the former champion lacks the power to dictate terms and will not get another shot at the belt.
  • Multiple UFC fighters—Tsarukyan, Adesanya, and Pimblett—have criticized Topuria for making cheating allegations instead of accepting his loss professionally.
  • Gaethje has offered mixed messaging: praising Topuria as a skilled fighter while suggesting he move back to featherweight and warning he may never regain the title.
  • Arman Tsarukyan has been confirmed as the next lightweight title contender, not Topuria.

“The reason that my story was so significant and so, you know, relative and relatable was because I failed, got knocked out by Max Holloway, come back, believed in myself, and came back and was able to achieve the championship. He has the same opportunity.”

Justin Gaethje, UFC lightweight champion · Yahoo Sports ↗

Justin GaethjeJustin Gaethje UFC lightweight championIlia TopuriaIlia Topuria Former UFC lightweight championAli Abdelaziz Justin Gaethje's managerArman TsarukyanArman Tsarukyan Top-ranked lightweight contender

Gaethje rules out Topuria rematch as feud intensifies post-defeat
Yahoo Sports

How it unfolded 8 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 5 pieces in 3h at Sep 23, 1 PM; 18 pieces over 11 days (18 articles) Sep 16, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 22, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 22, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 23, 1 AM — quietSep 23, 4 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 10 AM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — 5 pieces · 5 articles — Google News 3, Newswires 2Sep 23, 4 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 10 PM — quietSep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 4 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — quietSep 24, 10 AM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 25, 1 AM — quietSep 25, 4 AM — quietSep 25, 7 AM — quietSep 25, 10 AM — quietSep 25, 1 PM — quietSep 25, 4 PM — quietSep 25, 7 PM — quietSep 25, 10 PM — quietSep 26, 1 AM — quietSep 26, 4 AM — quietSep 26, 7 AM — quietSep 26, 10 AM — quietSep 26, 1 PM — quietSep 26, 4 PM — quietSep 26, 7 PM — quietSep 26, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quiet 1234–67–8
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22Sep 23Sep 24Sep 25Sep 26now · 12:34 AM ET
  1. 8

    Gaethje says Topuria is too small for lightweight, must return to featherweight

    Gaethje argued that Topuria belongs at featherweight, not lightweight, and reiterated that Arman Tsarukyan is the rightful next contender for the lightweight title.

  2. 7

    Gaethje predicts Topuria will never regain the UFC title

    Gaethje expressed doubt about Topuria's ability to become UFC champion again.

  3. 6

    Ali Abdelaziz blocks Topuria rematch, says Tsarukyan is next

    Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz definitively rejected Topuria's rematch demands, stating he lacks the power to demand anything and confirming that Arman Tsarukyan will be next in line for a lightweight title shot.

    1. 1 outlet Justin Gaethje's manager attempts to put Ilia Topuria in his place on rematch talk

      first by Yahoo Sports, 5d ago

      2 more headlines
  4. 5

    Paddy Pimblett criticizes Topuria's handling of loss

    Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett attacked Topuria for accusing Gaethje of cheating and for the way he has processed the defeat.

    1. 1 outlet Paddy Pimblett rips 'little b*tch' Ilia Topuria for accusing Justin Gaethje of cheating

      first by Yahoo Sports, 5d ago

  5. 4

    Israel Adesanya warns Topuria against immediate rematch

    Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya cautioned Topuria not to jump straight back into a Gaethje rematch following his brutal loss.

    1. 2 outlets first by MMA Fighting, 5d ago · also Yahoo Sports · read ↗

  6. 2 days quiet
  7. 3

    Gaethje praises Topuria's skills while tempering rematch expectations

    Gaethje offered qualified praise for Topuria, calling him "one of the best in the world" and saying whoever fights him next is in for trouble, but emphasized Topuria must avoid mental mistakes and stay humble.

    “He is so skilled, and whoever fights him next is going to be f***ed. If he forgets how dangerous this sport [is], and how there's a little bit of luck and chance, then you know, he's going to maybe become and make mistakes.”
    — Justin Gaethje
    1. 1 outlet Justin Gaethje gives Ilia Topuria his flowers

      first by Yahoo Sports, 8d ago

      2 more headlines
  8. 1 day quiet
  9. 2

    Topuria accuses Gaethje of glove tampering, demands rematch

    Topuria returned to social media with a post claiming Gaethje put something "weird" in his gloves and called for an immediate rematch. He directly insulted Gaethje and his manager Ali Abdelaziz in follow-up posts.

    “Next time I'll make sure they check Justin's gloves so he doesn't put anything weird on them.”
    — Ilia Topuria
    1. 2 outlets Ilia Topuria stays on the attack with Justin Gaethje and manager: ‘F—k you still stands’

      first by Yahoo Sports, 10d ago · also MMA Mania

  10. 1

    Arman Tsarukyan rejects Topuria's cheating claims as excuses

    Top-ranked lightweight Tsarukyan defended Gaethje and criticized Topuria for making excuses rather than accepting the loss and analyzing his own mistakes.

    “Just excuses. How can the commission let [Gaethje] wear different gloves? They stay in, check. Just excuses. You got to accept what really happened.”
    — Arman Tsarukyan

    1. 1 outlet first by Yahoo Sports, 11d ago · read ↗

  11. background

    Justin Gaethje defeats Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 — Gaethje scored a historic upset over then-champion Topuria at the White House event, forcing a corner stoppage before the final round after inflicting extensive facial damage and cutting Topuria's eye.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Justin Gaethje Encourages Ilia Topuria to Move Back to 145 lbs

    first by heavy.com, 4d ago · also Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting

    2 more headlines

and 1 smaller piece