Ali Abdelaziz Says Gaethje-Topuria Rematch Dead, Offers $1M for Nurmagomedov
Ali Abdelaziz declared the Gaethje-Topuria rematch finished and offered to personally fund Usman Nurmagomedov's UFC debut against Topuria.
Manager Ali Abdelaziz made two significant moves in the lightweight landscape on Monday. First, he declared the Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria rematch dead. Second, he offered to pay one million dollars from his own pocket to make Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Topuria happen instead.
On the rematch, Abdelaziz was blunt. Per LowKick MMA, he told media: "He's not fighting Justin Gaethje next. Justin has his number. This fight will never happen." The comments come three months after Topuria lost his lightweight title to Gaethje via fourth-round corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026.
Topuria had alleged something was "weird" inside Gaethje's gloves during the fight, a claim that California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster shut down by confirming the gloves met all regulations. Abdelaziz dismissed the accusation as an unsubstantiated excuse.
On the Nurmagomedov front, Abdelaziz told Submission Radio his "dream fight" would be Usman Nurmagomedov against Topuria. The 28-year-old Nurmagomedov is undefeated at 22-0 with one no contest, a former Bellator lightweight champion and current PFL lightweight titleholder who recently completed his PFL contract obligations. His July knockout of Archie Colgan marked his second PFL title defense.
Abdelaziz acknowledged a potential UFC contract might not match PFL money, reportedly around two million dollars. His solution: "If the UFC wanna do that, I'll pay the difference from my pocket." Whether the UFC bites on a free-agent debut against a former champion remains to be seen.
Ali Abdelaziz saying the Gaethje rematch will never happen is the most Ali thing ever, and it is also probably true for now. Justin has his number, the glove complaints went nowhere once Andy Foster confirmed they were legal, and Topuria has no leverage to demand a runback three months after a corner stoppage.
The Usman Nurmagomedov offer is the part I love. Ali is saying he will pay the difference out of his own pocket if the UFC cannot match the PFL money. Usman is 22-0 with a no contest, a former Bellator champ, a current PFL champ, and he just knocked out Archie Colgan. That is a real free agent, not a project.
Topuria against Usman is a great fight and the UFC should make it. The danger for Topuria is obvious. He loses that one and the aura is fully gone. But he is the one who talked his way to the top. Time to fight his way back.
