Anik: UFC Weighing Gaethje-Topuria Lightweight Rematch

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Jon Anik believes the UFC is weighing a Justin Gaethje versus Ilia Topuria rematch as the next move for the lightweight title, rather than a fresh matchup for the new champion. Anik, the promotion's lead play-by-play voice, said internal discussions around running it back are already happening even though Gaethje has said he doesn't plan to fight again until 2027.

Gaethje took the undisputed lightweight belt this summer when Topuria's corner threw in the towel in the main event of UFC White House, the first loss of Topuria's career and the signature win of Gaethje's own. That result left the 155-pound division without a clear next challenger, and Anik's comments suggest the promotion sees enough demand in a rematch to circle back to Topuria before sending him toward other options.

Why A Gaethje-Topuria Rematch Makes Sense For The UFC

A second Justin Gaethje-Ilia Topuria fight would let the UFC cash in twice on a matchup that already delivered one of the year's biggest moments. Anik framed it as a business decision as much as a sporting one, pointing to the scale of the first fight as reason enough to go back to it. "if you have Ilia Topuria, as a fight promoter, would you not want to think about putting him back in a championship setting, given how big UFC Freedom 250 was?" Anik said, adding "I think there's strong consideration there."

That doesn't mean Topuria lacks other paths. Anik noted there's an obvious foundation for a fight between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, but he still views the rematch as the more likely call given the stakes of a title fight.

What's Holding Up The Lightweight Picture

Gaethje's own timeline is the biggest variable, since he has said he won't fight again until 2027 while he recovers from the Topuria war. Anik doesn't think that timeline will simply dictate the champion's next move. "I think he probably is going to fight, if you take manager Ali Abdelaziz at his word," Anik said. "I sort of thought maybe Mom would be like, 'Justin, this is a great note upon which to go out.' But I don't think it's going to be up to Justin."

Behind Gaethje and Topuria, the division is stacked with contenders pushing their own cases. Lightweight contenders Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, both of whom have wins over Gaethje, have made their case for a shot at the new champion, and Arman Tsarukyan is battling Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in a bout that most assume is a lightweight title eliminator. Anik also floated a Paddy Pimblett-Charles Oliveira pairing as an equally legitimate eliminator, saying "if you want to sweeten the pot and put the BMF belt on the line, so be it."

Betting Angle

None of this is bookable yet, so there's no rematch line to price. But the setup itself is worth watching for bettors: if Tsarukyan finishes Ruffy at UFC 331, Anik thinks the path to Gaethje-Topuria 2 opens up fast. "If Arman Tsarukyan beats Mauricio Ruffy and is able to finish him, potentially, I think that fight could be made expeditiously," he said. A finish there is the single biggest catalyst for how quickly this rematch gets made, and by extension for how soon a new title-fight market opens. Until Gaethje commits to a timeline, expect the futures market at 155 pounds to stay muddled between Topuria, Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Holloway rather than settling on a clear number-one contender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Jon Anik say the UFC is planning a Gaethje vs. Topuria rematch?

Jon Anik said there are internal conversations about potentially booking a Justin Gaethje versus Ilia Topuria rematch, though nothing has been officially announced.

How did Justin Gaethje beat Ilia Topuria the first time?

Justin Gaethje won the undisputed UFC lightweight title when Ilia Topuria's corner threw in the towel in the main event of UFC White House this past summer, handing Topuria the first loss of his career.