Alvarez Warns Topuria Rematch Risks Disaster For UFC

Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez believes an immediate rematch between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria would be a mistake that could backfire on the promotion.

Topuria suffered a decisive loss to Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, yet recent reports suggest the UFC is considering running the fight back despite the lopsided nature of the first encounter. According to BJ Penn.com, Alvarez does not think the former featherweight champion earned another crack at Gaethje's belt.

Why Alvarez Thinks UFC Should Pump The Brakes

"He beat the sh*t out of him," Alvarez told MMA Junkie when asked about a potential rematch. He added that Topuria needs to rebuild confidence against a lesser opponent before challenging Gaethje again, noting that the damage absorbed in the first fight will leave a psychological mark even if the Georgian believes he has moved past it.

Alvarez acknowledged the UFC's financial incentive to crown Topuria given his drawing power and marketability, but warned that Gaethje and coach Trevor Wittman figured out the featherweight's patterns. "His brain is still going to suffer a form of PTSD," Alvarez said, per the MMA Junkie report. "There's going to be a governor on certain things."

The timing of any rematch remains unclear, though Gaethje recently claimed lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan backed out of a title shot earlier this year due to weight-cut issues rather than the back injury Tsarukyan cited publicly.

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• BJPenn — Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria rematch could be ‘disaster’ for UFC, says Eddie Alvarez