Justin Gaethje doesn’t see Ilia Topuria winning UFC gold at 155 again. 😬 The UFC lightweight champion believes Topuria is simply too small for the division and says he would struggle against contenders like Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett. “I don’t think he’ll ever be champion at lightweight. He can’t beat Arman, he’s going to have a difficult time with Paddy. There’s a bunch of dogs. I think he’s undersized for lightweight. That’s what I felt.” Gaethje felt that size difference firsthand when he stopped Topuria after four rounds at UFC Freedom 250 in June to become the undisputed lightweight champion. (MMA Fighting) Topuria has made it clear he wants another shot at Gaethje. Does Topuria prove Gaethje wrong and get his belt back at 155? 👀 Via @Flagrant #JustinGaethje #IliaTopuria #UFC #MMA #UFCLightweight
Justin Gaethje is making no secret of his skepticism about Ilia Topuria's chances of ever reclaiming UFC lightweight gold, and he says physical size is the core reason.
Gaethje, the current UFC lightweight champion, spoke recently and stated plainly that he believes Topuria is simply too small for the 155-pound division to thrive long-term. He named Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett as contenders he expects Topuria to struggle against, saying, "I don't think he'll ever be champion at lightweight. He can't beat Arman, he's going to have a difficult time with Paddy. There's a bunch of dogs. I think he's undersized for lightweight. That's what I felt." Gaethje said he experienced that size disparity firsthand when he stopped Topuria after four rounds at UFC Freedom 250 in June, claiming the undisputed lightweight title in the process.
Gaethje, 37, carries a 28-5 record and brings genuine knockout power to the division. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, he lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect the sustained offensive pressure that has defined his career at Genesis Training Center.
Topuria, 29, enters this conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the sport, holding a 17-1 record. The Spanish fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach — a notable physical disadvantage against most in the division. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds a takedown threat of nearly two per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded offensive profile. Despite the loss, Topuria has made clear he wants a rematch and another shot at the lightweight belt.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's comments frame the size question as a genuine divisional obstacle, not just pre-fight rhetoric
- Topuria sits ranked first in the lightweight division and at pound-for-pound, giving him strong standing to demand a rematch
- A style matchup between Topuria's multi-dimensional attack and Gaethje's high-volume striking makes any future bout a compelling test of that size theory
