🚨 Ilia Topuria wants a REMATCH with Justin Gaethje and believes another massive payday will bring him back! 👀 🗣️ “The most amount of money he made in his life was against me. I don't think he's gonna retire without one more paycheck.” Topuria also called out longtime rival Paddy Pimblett, joking: 🗣️ “Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, I eat it like a sausage.” With Topuria targeting an April 2027 return, both fights are on his radar! 🔥 Via: (@adamcatterall )
Ilia Topuria says he wants a rematch with Justin Gaethje and believes the lightweight champion will not walk away from the sport without one more big payday. The comments were relayed by Adam Catterall.
Topuria argued that Gaethje's biggest earnings came in their meeting. "The most amount of money he made in his life was against me. I don't think he's gonna retire without one more paycheck," he said, as quoted in the report. Topuria is targeting an April 2027 return to the cage.
He also turned his attention to Paddy Pimblett, joking, "Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, I eat it like a sausage." Both fights, the report says, are on his radar.
The Topuria-Gaethje history
Topuria, a 29-year-old Spaniard, is 17-1 and still holds the number one spot in the lightweight rankings and the pound-for-pound list. His only loss came on June 14, 2026, at UFC Freedom 250, where Gaethje stopped him with a fourth-round KO/TKO in a title fight. Before that, Topuria had finished Charles Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317 and Max Holloway in the third at UFC 308, both in title bouts.
Gaethje, 37, is 28-5 and the reigning lightweight champion. He had already beaten Pimblett by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026, before handing Topuria his first defeat.
Why it matters
- The two have met once, and Gaethje won by stoppage. Any rematch would be the first chance for Topuria to avenge that result.
- Gaethje is 37 and Topuria's argument rests on the idea that a veteran will chase a final high-value fight.
- The numbers show a clear style contrast: Gaethje lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, while Topuria lands 4.81 at 48 percent.
- Topuria also holds a takedown edge on paper, averaging 1.96 per 15 minutes to Gaethje's 0.33.
- Gaethje carries a 10-centimeter height advantage (180 cm to 170 cm) and a three-centimeter reach edge (178 cm to 175 cm).
Topuria's mention of Pimblett adds a second possible opponent to his plans. Pimblett's most recent recorded fight was the January loss to Gaethje, which means both men Topuria is talking about have lost to the champion or beaten him in the last year.
