Ilia Topuria could step right back into another title fight against Justin Gaethje, if what Jon Anik is hearing through the grapevine is true.
Anik is UFC’s main play-by-play commentator and is no stranger to discussing controversial topics or insider information. In a new video on the Anik Bros. YouTube channel, Jon suggested there was a real interest in setting up an immediate rematch of UFC White House’s epic Topuria vs. Gaethje fight (watch highlights).
“I think there are internal conversations to potentially try to do Gaethje vs. Topuria 2,” Anik said. “A lot of people wonder aloud, ‘What is next for Ilia Topuria?’ And there’s certainly an obvious foundation for a fight between him and Paddy Pimblett. But, if you have Ilia Topuria, as a fight promoter, would you not want to think about putting him back in a championship setting, given how big UFC Freedom 250 was? I think there’s strong consideration there.”
Gaethje has consistently said he’s not interested in rematching Topuria considering how dominant his win was.
“I don’t think it’s going to be up to Justin … I say that with all due respect,” Anik said, before adding, “I think Justin is far more concerned with his show money than with who he’s actually fighting.”
“I don’t know what Ilia Topuria’s timeline is,” Anik concluded. “But my non-informed speculation is that Gaethje vs. Topuria 2, a rematch, would be absolutely enormous, and I guess, predictively, that’s what I think is going to happen. At least right now, as we sit here in late August.”
It will be interesting to see what the UFC decides on. Topuria vs. Pimblett has never made more sense, and it would be huge as well. Arman Tsarukyan versus Gaethje would also be big if “Batman” gets past Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331.
So, the promotion is in a good position to have several big fights on the horizon, it just need to figure out which would be bigger.
