Well, plans don’t last long in the UFC—especially when title shots are on the line. As Justin Gaethje has clearly stated, his intentions and his next decision could have a significant impact on the lightweight division. Due to Dan Hooker’s sudden injury, Gaethje will now be up against Rafael Fiziev in a high-stakes matchup with ambitious goals. Despite this, Islam Makhachev continues to be the person to watch out for, while Ilia Topuria’s journey towards achieving success in two different weight classes may take a serious toll.
It is clear that Justin Gaethje is aware of the limited time left in his illustrious career, and he is determined to secure one last opportunity at UFC gold. During an interview on The Jim Rome Show, the Arizona fighter emphasized that defeating Rafael Fiziev is not just another victory for him; it is a chance to earn a title shot against Islam Makhachev before the year concludes. Gaethje isn’t asking for his chance. He’s making sure the UFC has no choice as he says, “I mean, I’m always shooting for (Islam) Makhachev, you know, right now he’s the champion,” Justin Gaethje explained. “And we saw with (Dustin) Poirier, you know, I beat him and then he fought for the belt. I think timing is such a huge factor in this sport.”
However, there is a twist as Ilia Topuria is also eyeing a matchup with Islam. Topuria’s move up to lightweight is not just for fun; he is targeting a showdown with Makhachev, who is the UFC’s pound-for-pound best. While some may question if Topuria deserves an immediate title shot, Kamaru Usman believes it is precisely what Makhachev needs. The former welterweight champion, once hailed by Dana White as the greatest at 170 pounds ahead of Georges St-Pierre, sees this potential bout as a way to cement Makhachev’s legacy rather than just focusing on Topuria.
“Ilia Topuria, I believe, is definitely next. Put him up there because Islam needs a new face and I honestly believe this is the biggest fight that you can make for Islam. And I think Islam deserves that. Islam has worked. He’s put time in, you know. I believe he needs that big fight to put him there, and I think this is the fight to put him there, okay, to where he’s a standalone champion,” Usman told Henry Cejudo on their Pound 4 Pound podcast.
Now, Usman views this as the pivotal moment for Makhachev. A convincing victory over Topuria wouldn’t just be another title defense—it would solidify his position as the undisputed face of the lightweight division. Topuria’s rapid ascent, marked by defeating two top featherweights, has drawn comparisons to Conor McGregor’s level of influence. If Makhachev defeats the former featherweight king, it won’t just be a title defense—it would be his own Conor-Khabib moment. Justin Gaethje also harbors similar hopes for his title pursuit.
It’s important not to underestimate him. Gaethje sees the title picture aligning in his favor, with Charles Oliveira having lost twice to Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan withdrawing last minute, and Dustin Poirier moving up. “With the huge win here and certainly a finish I think they’re [the UFC] gonna have to consider me.” However, this isn’t solely about Gaethje’s title aspirations—it directly relates to the broader issue at hand.
Justin Gaethje brings out the ugly side of UFC’s negotiation tactics
Well, Justin Gaethje recently shed light on UFC negotiations, revealing a less-than-pleasant scenario. Following Dan Hooker’s withdrawal from their UFC 313 co-main event due to a broken hand, Gaethje urgently needed a new opponent. The UFC ultimately chose Rafael Fiziev, whom the former interim lightweight champ had previously defeated. This decision sparked questions about why they didn’t consider fresh contenders like Arman Tsarukyan or Max Holloway, who were available. Gaethje explained that they declined the offer.
Talking about the whole face-off drama, Justin Gaethje made a bold revelation. As he didn’t hold back, dropping a list of names on X, saying, “Arman [Tsarukyan] and Charles [Oliveira] understandably said no. Max [Holloway] and Dustin [Poirier] understandably said no. [Renato] Moicano got the call and said no.” The message? The UFC had to match Fiziev with him because other fighters refused. That’s when it got interesting; Tsarukyan wouldn’t stand for it.
Now, here is where things get spicier. Arman Tsarukyan fired back with his own version of events, claiming he never rejected the fight. “I didn’t say no; I accepted immediately and asked for a 160 lbs catchweight 11 days out from weigh-ins. UFC said that wasn’t an option.” All he wanted was a quick, small adjustment to the weight. Rather than work with him, the UFC ended things and gave the bout to Fiziev.
There seems to be more at play than just matchmaking strategies. As Tsarukyan’s last-minute pullout from his UFC 311 title fight against Islam Makhachev is still a sore point for fans and Dana White. Speculation suggests that the UFC may be penalizing him by not granting him significant fights. The situation has escalated into a conflict beyond the octagon. Whatever the situation might be, hopefully the feud doesn’t culminate in Justin Gaethje’s title hopes.
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