Brown On UFC Rebooking Gaethje-Topuria

Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes an immediate rematch between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria could permanently damage the former featherweight champion.

UFC commentator Jon Anik recently said the promotion is exploring a second fight between the pair for 2027, per MMA Fighting. Gaethje stopped Topuria at UFC White House in June after Topuria's corner threw in the towel following the fourth round due to accumulated damage.

Why Brown Opposes The Immediate Rematch

Brown told The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast that while the business case is obvious, the human cost could be catastrophic. "The downside of that fight, you might ruin Ilia Topuria's life," Brown said, according to MMA Fighting. "If that first fight repeats itself, I'm not sure Ilia comes back the same."

Topuria reportedly suffered two broken orbitals, a broken nose, and a broken foot in the loss. Brown pointed to the former champion's post-fight comments about looking at himself in the mirror as evidence he needs a confidence-building fight against someone like Renato Moicano before facing Gaethje's volume punching again.

Brown acknowledged that boxing rarely books immediate rematches after wars of that magnitude unless both fighters want it. Gaethje has already said he has no interest in running it back after Topuria quit on the stool. The rematch discussion remains speculative until both fighters clear medical suspensions and the UFC makes an official announcement.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Matt Brown argues UFC ‘might ruin Ilia Topuria’s life’ with another savage beatdown from Justin Gaethje