Justin Gaethje has a time and a place in mind for UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
The former UFC-Interim-Lichtweight champion and BMF champion is 0-2 in undisputed title fights, but Gaethje hopes that the third time is the charm against the newly crowned Ilia Topuria.
Topuria won the lightweight title last weekend with a first round knockout from Charles Oliveira on UFC 317. Gaethje was present at Cageside, but instead he was denied a call-out and a face-off and a face-off who went to Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan.
The feeling that he was 'owed' a title fight after winning three of his last four fights, Gaethje threatened to retire if he did not get a title. He may not have to, as Topuria's manager claimed that Gaethje is the 'nearest' competition to get a fight with 'El Matador'.
PREITED As a heavy matchup for Topuria because of his devastating legs, Gaethje has given his first view of the new champion.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Justin Gaethje says he would like to have Ko Ilia Topuria in Madison Square Garden
Potentially a fight removed of $ 1 million in performance bonuses, the harsh Gaethje is perhaps the most exciting hunter in the UFC.
Yet Topuria does not consider the former BMF champion as a 'legend' and he was not so interested in fighting him after Oliveira.
So what does the stroke Gaethje of the latest KO artist think of the lightweight division?
“Topuria is now the big name,” said Gaethje Austin Keen while surfing, days before UFC 317.
“Cocky,” said Gaethje of Topuria, who was right in his prediction before the fight he had eliminated Oliveira in the first round.
“I would like to turn it off …”
Gaethje said he had hoped that the UFC 317 Main Event would end in a KO and that he would like to fight the winner in Madison Square Garden in November, where the UFC tends to go in the fall. This is where Gaethje won the '2021 Fight of the Year' against Michael Chandler on UFC 268.
Gaethje comes from an almost finish by top candidate Rafael Fiziev on UFC 313 in March after his original opponent Dan Hooker pulled out of the game.
Ilia Topuria could continue the fan-favorite storyline against Justin Gaethje
While Topuria Gaethje did not shout after his second title victory, 'The Highlight' fits in the description of his last three opponents.
Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski are all fan favorites within the UFC, and one by one they went down by the powerful Topuria.
Gaethje is one of the most dangerous knockouts of the UFC, with victories on Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Rafael Fiziev (X2), Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone – the list continues.
If Topuria Gaethje would fight and disable in his next title fight, there would be discussions about the lightweight champion that has the best four-fighter line in UFC history.