Justin Gaethje Names Arman Tsarukyan Next and Rips Ilia Topuria
UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje says Arman Tsarukyan is next in line and calls Ilia Topuria a loser now.
Justin Gaethje has made two things clear: Arman Tsarukyan is his next challenger, and Ilia Topuria can keep waiting by the phone.
Appearing on the Flagrant podcast on Tuesday, the UFC lightweight champion named Tsarukyan as the only man in the title conversation. "He is the next in line," Gaethje said, per LowKick MMA. "If and when I defend this championship, that will be who I fight."
Tsarukyan cemented that position with a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event on September 19, leaving zero doubt about his standing at 155 pounds. Gaethje acknowledged the performance but made no promises on a timeline.
"I just don't know right now. It cost me a lot. I need to recover," Gaethje said, referencing the injuries he sustained while dethroning Topuria via TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June. "I'm just going to enjoy being the champion for the rest of the year."
The 37-year-old also took direct aim at the man he beat for the belt. Topuria has publicly accused Gaethje of loading his gloves and pushed for an immediate rematch. Gaethje is not interested and had harsh words for the former champion's persona.
"I think he created a fake world before," Gaethje said. "Believing he's invincible, unbeatable. That's not possible. Nobody's invincible. Having parties, updating his bio. So it's kind of the same, but as a loser now."
Gaethje broke two of Topuria's orbital bones and his nose during their June fight, while also fracturing his own foot. He has not committed to whether he will defend or retire, citing his age and a career dating back to 2008.
I've watched Gaethje fight since the WSOF days, and this version of him is different. The guy who used to walk through fire for fun played it smart against the most hyped fighter on the planet and took his belt. Now he's being selective, and I respect it.
Tsarukyan is the right call. After what he did to Ruffy, there's nobody else who makes sense at 155. But Gaethje saying he might not fight until 2027, or might not fight again period, is the part that worries me. When a 37-year-old champion talks about enjoying the belt, retirement is closer than he's letting on.
As for the "loser now" line about Topuria, that was ice cold. And accurate. The loaded-gloves accusation was always desperate, and someone needed to call it out.
