Gaethje Fires Back at Topuria's Loaded Gloves Claim

Justin Gaethje says he is open to an immediate rematch with Ilia Topuria after publicly dismissing Topuria's accusation that Gaethje had something on his gloves during their June 14 lightweight title fight.

Topuria announced this week that he has completed his final medical tests following the injuries he suffered at UFC Freedom 250, where Gaethje stopped him in the fourth round to claim the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. Topuria left that fight with a broken foot, a broken nose and two fractured orbital bones. In the same breath as his comeback announcement, Topuria accused Gaethje of loading his gloves, writing that next time he wants officials to "check Justin's gloves so he doesn't put anything weird on them."

Gaethje did not let it slide. He replied directly to Topuria online, calling the accusation a "lame excuse" and telling him to "do better, kid." Pressed on the theory in a separate interview, Gaethje said people do not believe his gloves were tampered with because "I've done that to everybody's face that I fought."

Will Gaethje Give Topuria an Immediate Rematch?

Gaethje has reversed his position on running it back with Topuria. He had previously resisted giving "El Matador" an instant title shot, but now says he would happily do it again, telling reporters he already "beat the sh*t out of him" once and would be glad to do it a second time. He did add that Topuria's trash talk is not the way to earn his attention for a rematch, suggesting the fight will need to make sense on its own merits rather than be forced by a social media feud.

The timeline still works against an immediate rematch. Gaethje has said he plans to keep defending the lightweight title through 2027 before considering retirement, while Topuria has indicated he will not be fight ready until February 2027 given the extent of his injuries. That gap leaves plenty of time for the UFC's lightweight picture to shift before the two ever share a cage again, but Dana White has already signaled he wants the rematch made.

Betting Angle

Gaethje enters this stretch as a freshly minted undisputed champion coming off a statement stoppage over a fighter many had pegged as nearly unbeatable, and that kind of result tends to make him a short favorite in any speculative rematch line once one opens. Topuria's long road back from multiple fractures adds real uncertainty for oddsmakers and bettors alike. A fighter returning from broken orbital bones and a broken foot carries more variance than the betting markets typically like to see, and until Topuria has a tune-up or at least logs visible full-speed training, sportsbooks will have little firm data to price a rematch confidently. For now, this is a feud playing out in public, not a fight with a signed contract or a line attached to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Ilia Topuria accuse Justin Gaethje of?

Ilia Topuria accused Justin Gaethje of loading his gloves during their June 14 UFC lightweight title fight, suggesting officials should check Gaethje's gloves more closely in any rematch.

How did Justin Gaethje respond to the loaded gloves accusation?

Justin Gaethje called Ilia Topuria's claim a 'lame excuse' and said it was as poor as Topuria's performance in their fight, adding that his gloves get checked before every fight he has.

Is a Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria rematch happening?

No fight is officially booked, but Justin Gaethje says he is now open to an immediate rematch with Ilia Topuria after previously resisting it, and UFC president Dana White has expressed interest in making the fight.