New UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has expressed strong criticism of his former adversary Ilia Topuria’s mindset.
Earlier this year at UFC Freedom 250, Gaethje shocked the MMA world by defeating Topuria, handing the 29-year-old his first professional defeat. In the fight, Gaethje inflicted serious damage, breaking two orbital bones, Topuria’s nose, and his foot, leading the Georgian-Spaniard’s corner to stop the fight after the fourth round.
Following his recovery, Topuria recently announced his return to the octagon and accused Gaethje of tampering with his gloves before their title unification bout at UFC White House 155 pounds. Gaethje rejected these allegations and made it clear he’s not interested in granting Topuria an immediate rematch.
On today’s episode of the Flagrant podcast, Gaethje commented on Topuria’s overconfidence and championship mindset. The 37-year-old champion said Topuria had built up a “fake world,” seeing himself as invincible and unbeatable, even celebrating prematurely and embellishing his record. Gaethje said:
“I think he created a fake world before… Believing he’s invincible, unbeatable. That’s not possible. Nobody’s f**king invincible… Having parties, updating his bio. So it’s kind of the same, but as a loser now.”
Gaethje also revealed during the interview that he is still healing from injuries sustained on June 14 and has yet to decide whether he will defend his title next year or retire. He added:
“Everyone’s like, you know, ‘You fuking fight Arman.’ I don’t know what the fuk I have. I have injuries I need to take care of. I haven’t made a decision. I am 37 years old. My first fight was in 2008. I’ve had 40 fights, including my amateur fights. So I don’t know. I don’t need [to fight again].”
Looking ahead, if Gaethje returns to competition in 2027, he is expected to face top contender Arman Tsarukyan, who recently knocked out Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 to cement his status as a leading lightweight challenger. Tsarukyan has openly called Gaethje an easy target and urged him to vacate the title and retire if he isn’t ready to fight soon.
Fan Take:
This showdown between Gaethje and Topuria reveals the intense psychological dynamics that shape MMA rivalries, making it compelling for fight fans. Gaethje’s uncertain future and the looming arrival of a hungry contender like Tsarukyan could signal a pivotal moment for the UFC lightweight division’s landscape.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
