Former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has reiterated his demand for a title shot against new champion Ilia Topuria, following an ultimatum where he threatened to retire if not granted the next opportunity.
Speaking to the media ahead of UFC 318, Gaethje identified himself and Arman Tsarukyan as the primary contenders for Topuria’s first title defense. “It’s me or Arman,” Gaethje stated. “I believe someone has to fight [Topuria] this year, and I think I’m in a better spot than Arman.”
He also outlined his ideal timeline, adding, “I hope it’s at Madison Square Garden, New York City, I get to fight him and then I get to defend it on the White House lawn,” a reference to a potential UFC event proposed by Donald Trump.
Gaethje’s firm stance comes after Topuria captured the lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, becoming a two-division champion. The post-fight celebration saw a controversial in-cage face-off between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, a matchup UFC President Dana White later dismissed, stating that was “not the fight” to make.
In response to Gaethje’s initial retirement threat, both Topuria and White appeared unpersuaded. The new champion expressed a lack of interest in the matchup, while White publicly suggested that if Gaethje was already contemplating retirement, he should proceed with it.
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