Dana White: Topuria Ready to Fight, Names Two Options

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Ilia Topuria is "ready to fight" and the UFC is ready to book his return, according to UFC CEO Dana White, who floated a Justin Gaethje rematch or a fight with Paddy Pimblett as the two options that make the most sense for the former lightweight champion.

White made the comments in an interview with Jim Rome, saying Topuria's camp stays in regular contact with the promotion even though no fight is currently on the schedule. Asked to weigh a Gaethje rematch against a Pimblett matchup, White did not pick a favorite, calling both bouts genuinely appealing.

Topuria has not fought since June, when he lost his lightweight title to Gaethje via fourth-round corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250. It was the first defeat of his professional career and it came with serious damage, a broken nose and shattered orbital bones that fueled speculation about how long he'd need before stepping back into the Octagon. Topuria broke a months-long social media silence in early September with a personal letter to his son Hugo, addressing the loss directly before signaling he was ready to move forward.

What Would a Topuria-Gaethje Rematch Mean for the Belt?

A rematch with Gaethje is the fight with title implications attached. Gaethje left the White House with Topuria's lightweight strap, and a second meeting would be a straight shot at reclaiming it rather than a voluntary tune-up. That's the appeal for the UFC and for Topuria, who has never needed a gatekeeper fight to justify his spot near the top of a division. It's also the harder outcome to book quickly given how brutal the first fight was on Topuria's face and psyche.

Why Pimblett Makes Sense as the Alternative

A Paddy Pimblett fight offers a different kind of value, a massive box office pairing between two of the sport's most bankable personalities without the immediate pressure of a title rematch. Pimblett has built himself into one of the UFC's biggest draws on personality and finishing ability alone, and a matchup with Topuria would sell itself without either side needing to talk it up. For Topuria, it's a chance to rebuild momentum against a live, high-profile name before circling back to Gaethje.

Betting Angle

Nothing is booked yet, so there's no live line to point to, but the market reaction to each option would look very different. A Gaethje rematch likely opens with Gaethje favored or close to even given how decisively he won the first meeting and the fact that Topuria is coming off surgery-level facial trauma. A Pimblett fight would probably see Topuria installed as a clear favorite given the gap in finishing pedigree, making it the more bettor-friendly outcome if the goal is a confident wager rather than a pick'em. Until the UFC actually schedules one of these, both remain speculative for anyone looking to get ahead of the number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ilia Topuria fighting next?

No official fight has been booked. Dana White says Ilia Topuria is ready to compete and named a Justin Gaethje rematch or a fight with Paddy Pimblett as the two options that make sense.

Why did Ilia Topuria lose his UFC lightweight title?

Ilia Topuria lost the UFC lightweight title to Justin Gaethje via fourth-round corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250 in June, suffering a broken nose and shattered orbital bones in the process.