Gaethje Says Topuria's Too Small for 155 — and Tsarukyan Is Next in Line

Justin Gaethje just took the UFC lightweight title off Ilia Topuria — the first loss of the Spaniard's professional career — and he's not interested in a rematch. In his read, Topuria was outgunned by simple physics: he's too small for 155 pounds. Gaethje would rather point the belt at the man ranked directly behind him, #2 Arman Tsarukyan (24-3, six submissions), who he flatly calls next in line.

Speaking on the FLAGRANT podcast, Gaethje batted away Topuria's claim that his gloves were somehow loaded. He said Topuria almost has to believe he cheated, because how else do you explain a broken face? Then came the sharper cut: Gaethje thinks Topuria should drop back to featherweight, where he could beat Alexander Volkanovski and reclaim a title, because he'll never be champion at lightweight.

Why He Rates the Rest of the Division Higher

Gaethje name-checked the queue Topuria would have to climb. He doesn't see Topuria beating Tsarukyan, and he expects a rough night against Paddy Pimblett. The 155-pound division, in his words, is stacked with dogs — and while he allowed that Topuria is skilled enough to catch a break, luck only carries you so far in a weight class this deep.

There's context to the size argument. Topuria built his run at featherweight, winning and defending that belt before moving up to knock out Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight strap. Oliveira, now #3, is 37-11 with 22 career submissions. Topuria beat him and Max Holloway on his way up — which is exactly why Gaethje says he no longer feels the pull for revenge on the only two men who've beaten him. He's fine losing to guys who got finished by the guy he just finished.

The bigger question is whether Gaethje fights at all. He's 37, took his first fight in 2008, and figures he's logged 40 bouts counting his amateur days. He said he has injuries to manage, no burning need for money, and nothing left to prove — but he also just delivered the best performance of his career, which leaves him wedged between the belt and his own brain.

He floated a Conor McGregor fight as something he'd enjoy, though McGregor (22-7) hasn't signed anything and is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Holloway. For now Gaethje plans to enjoy being champion through the rest of the year and make what he called a business and life decision when the time's right. If he does defend, though, he was clear: it's Tsarukyan.