Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria Rematch Off: Arman Tsarukyan's Chance
Ali Abdelaziz has shut the door – at least for now – on one of the UFC’s juiciest immediate rematch ideas.
The manager of UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje insists Ilia Topuria will not be the next man across the cage, despite growing chatter that the promotion could run back their June clash at UFC Freedom 250, where Gaethje stunned Topuria in a seismic upset.
“He’s not fighting Justin Gaethje next,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio, cutting straight through the speculation. He went further, making it clear he sees that chapter as closed. In his view, Gaethje owns the matchup.
“I believe Justin Gaethje will beat him nine out of 10 time. You know why? Justin have his number… this fight will never happen. I can tell you this.”
That’s not just a cold splash of water on Topuria’s hopes. It’s a lifeline for Arman Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan’s Window Opens
If Gaethje vs. Topuria 2 is off the table, the path suddenly looks clear for Tsarukyan to finally step into a title fight he has been circling for years.
The Armenian-Russian contender is coming off a brutal first-round KO of Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event of UFC 331, the kind of finish that doesn’t just win a fight – it demands a conversation. That victory marked his sixth straight win, a run built on consistency, violence, and the kind of steady evolution the lightweight division rarely rewards on schedule.
On merit, the case is simple. Six in a row. A highlight-reel stoppage in his latest outing. A skill set that has been sharpened against increasingly dangerous opposition. If the UFC is looking for the most deserving challenger, Tsarukyan is standing alone in the spotlight.
This is lightweight, though. History shows the promotion doesn’t always follow the rankings or the purist’s logic when it comes to title shots. Star power, timing, and storyline often crash the party. That’s why Abdelaziz’s stance matters: if Gaethje isn’t running it back with Topuria next, the obvious sporting choice is Tsarukyan.
Anything else would be hard to justify given his current form and the emphatic nature of that win over Ruffy.
UFC Holds the Final Card
Abdelaziz can talk tough and draw his own line in the sand, but he doesn’t book the fights. The UFC does.
If the promotion decides the rematch between Gaethje and Topuria is the biggest business, it can push hard to make it happen. If it leans toward sporting merit, Tsarukyan’s name is already written in bold on the shortlist.
For now, the manager’s message is clear: no Topuria rematch, no immediate rerun of Freedom 250. That leaves a hungry, surging Arman Tsarukyan staring at the belt and waiting for the phone to ring.
The only question left is whether the UFC finally rewards the run he’s put together – or asks him to wait yet again while the division reshuffles around him.
