Gaethje's Manager Shoots Down Topuria Rematch

Justin Gaethje will not grant Ilia Topuria a rematch after their June lightweight title fight, according to the champion's manager Ali Abdelaziz.

Gaethje captured the UFC lightweight strap from Topuria in a punishing bout on the White House lawn, forcing Topuria's corner to halt the contest after four rounds. Despite public interest in a second meeting and a social media poll showing 474,000 fans backing the rematch over other options, Abdelaziz shut down the possibility entirely. "This rematch will never happen," he wrote in a now-deleted post on social media, as MMA Mania first reported.

Why Gaethje's Team Says No To Topuria II

Abdelaziz referenced comments from Topuria crediting his brother for stopping the fight, writing that the brother "saved his life." The manager added that recovering from such trauma is difficult. "I've seen Justin do this to many people, and coming back wasn't easy for them," he said, per the report.

Gaethje has flirted with retirement and indicated he will only return for high-profile matchups. While the Topuria rematch qualifies on paper, the champion dominated the first encounter and may see little upside in revisiting the bout. Few had given Gaethje a chance heading into the June contest.

Topuria recently completed a media tour discussing potential next opponents, with the Gaethje rematch a recurring topic. If Abdelaziz's stance holds, Gaethje's next defence could instead target contenders like Arman Tsarukyan or former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Justin Gaethje’s manager shuts down Ilia Topuria rematch: ‘Will never happen!’