Justin Gaethje is at the moment in limbo with regards to the UFC light-weight title image.
A vacant 155-pound belt is on the road in the principle occasion of UFC 317 on June 28, however Gaethje will not be one of many principal competing for it. As an alternative, the undefeated Topuria fights former champion Charles Oliveira for the title not too long ago left behind by Islam Makhachev. Topuria not too long ago vacated his personal title, the featherweight championship, to chase a second title, whereas Makhachev is transferring as much as welterweight to combat newly topped champion Jack Della Maddalena.
In accordance with UFC broadcaster Jon Anik, who spoke to Gaethje not too long ago, “The Spotlight” was not glad to listen to the UFC 317 headliner announcement.
“He was pissed,” Anik mentioned on The Anik & Florian Podcast. “He seems like actually he was handed over in favor of Charles Oliveira for this chance towards Ilia Topuria and I believe what Justin Gaethje and his supervisor Ali Abdelaziz are on the lookout for is just a few kind of assure that they are going to be subsequent as a result of it’s Could 19 and the excellent news for this Topuria-Oliveira combat is that it’s f*cking June 28, it’s lower than six weeks away. So I don’t assume it’s a loopy request for Justin, having performed what he did towards Rafael Fiziev, staying on the combat card, not combating Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 consequence—and by the way in which, he fought at UFC 300 to assist the UFC when he may have fought for the undisputed championship at that time limit—so I wouldn’t be shocked if Gaethje will get some kind of assure that he’s subsequent for the Topuria-Oliveira winner.
“However I can simply let you know Justin was not thrilled.”
Gaethje is a former interim champion that has gained three of his previous 4 fights. In his most up-to-date outing at UFC 313, he gained a unanimous resolution in a rematch with Rafael Fiziev to bounce again from a brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300. Prior the the Holloway setback, Gaethje scored a head kick knockout of fellow light-weight nice Dustin Poirier.
In Oliveira’s most up-to-date combat, he defeated Michael Chandler for a second time. “Do Bronx” has been near getting into the cage for one more title alternative, however a combat week damage pressured him out of a rematch with Makhachev after which he misplaced a detailed cut up resolution to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 289. Oliveira holds a win over Gaethje from their combat at UFC 274, the place Oliveira defeated Gaethje by first-round submission.
Anik’s co-host Kenny Florian is hopeful Gaethje finally crosses paths with Topuria.
“I’m positive Gaethje’s upset, however I believe {that a} combat between him and Topuria could be extraordinarily attention-grabbing,” Florian mentioned. “Oliveira, in fact, you need to fear about his takedown recreation. I don’t assume Oliveira’s going to commerce with Gaethje for too lengthy if potential, however Topuria and Gaethje, that’s assured fireworks. These guys are going to face and bang. That’s going to ship for positive and I believe we’ll see that sooner or later. I actually do.”
The query for Gaethje now’s whether or not he can afford to attend for the UFC 317 principal occasion winner or if he has to danger his spot within the contender line to remain within the combine. Quick-rising light-weight Paddy Pimblett has talked about eager to face Gaethje subsequent, and Anik wonders if that’s the wisest transfer for Gaethje.
“Straight meritocracy, Charles Oliveira has the upper rating than Justin Gaethje,” Anik mentioned. “He’s the previous champion and relying on the way you take a look at current wins, Michael Chandler, the current win for Charles Oliveira, I imply each males have a case, however neither is essentially ironclad. Definitely, each make for compelling matchups towards Ilia Topuria, nevertheless it does seem to be Islam Makhachev is placing out the emptiness signal with finality right here.
“Justin Gaethje, I do know they want him to combat Paddy Pimblett, however in case you’re Justin Gaethje on the cusp of combating for the one prize that has eluded you on this sport, what’s your quantity, in case you’re Justin Gaethje, to combat down within the rankings? A man like Paddy Pimblett, that win doesn’t do something to get him nearer to the last word aim and even when he beats Paddy Pimblett, until he comes out tremendous f*cking wholesome, it simply serves as an extra delay. Paddy has talked about his relative urge for food for the Gaethje combat, I simply am undecided that Justin’s going to be signing on the dotted line for that one.”
