Former UFC two-division champion Ilia Topuria, who lost his title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 while enduring a broken foot, nose, and damage to two orbital bones, is now back in action.
Yesterday, Topuria revealed on X that he has completed his final medical examinations. He also criticized Gaethje, insinuating that Gaethje’s gloves were tampered with during their June 14 lightweight title unification fight. Topuria posted:
“Final medical tests done. I’m back. To everyone doubting me and talking trash all this time, here I am. Let’s see who’s got the courage now. Thanks for all the support. Next time, I’ll make sure they thoroughly check Justin’s gloves so he doesn’t sneak anything unusual. See you soon.”
The Georgian-Spanish fighter didn’t hold back, directing more harsh words toward Gaethje and his manager Ali Abdelaziz:
“By the way, Justin, fk you. And Ali, fk you too.”
Topuria’s comments have sparked debate online, with some fans supporting the idea that Gaethje’s gloves were possibly loaded and not properly inspected, which might explain the heavy damage Topuria took. Meanwhile, others shared footage showing Gaethje’s hand wraps and gloves undergoing clear inspection. Now, Gaethje, known as “The Highlight,” has responded.
The newly crowned undisputed UFC lightweight champion labeled the glove allegation a “lame excuse” and went on to call Topuria’s last performance “terrible”:
“94 days later and the best you could come up with is a weak excuse. As bad as your last fight. Step it up, kid.”
In another candid interview on Instagram page joy.of.everything, Gaethje dismissed the accusation, stating:
“People don’t believe that [the gloves were loaded]. I’ve shown that to everyone I’ve fought, right to their face.”
Initially, Gaethje was hesitant to give Topuria an immediate title rematch, but now he has expressed willingness, saying he’d be happy to “beat the sh*t out of him again.”
“Would I fight him again? I just beat the hell out of him. Of course I would.”
Gaethje intends to defend his title throughout 2027 if he does not decide to vacate the belt or retire. As for Topuria, he’s expected to be fight-ready by February 2027, having recently resumed training.
UFC president Dana White is open to making a second Gaethje vs. Topuria fight happen. However, Gaethje thinks that Topuria’s approach—using trash talk and accusations—is not the right way to secure a rematch, adding:
“That’s not how you do it.”
Fan Take: This developing rivalry between Gaethje and Topuria adds a new, intense chapter to the lightweight division, promising high stakes and fierce competition that fight fans thrive on. How this animosity plays out inside the octagon could set the tone for the division’s future and impact the sport’s storytelling and marketability.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
