Topuria (17-1) was a big favorite during his game
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title against Gaethje (28-5).
UFC Freedom 250 last June. The challenger handed Topuria his first pro loss, forcing a stoppage before the final round.
Eddie Alvarez warns against immediate UFC rematch between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje
Amidst rumors linking Topuria to an immediate rematch with Gaethje, former UFC lightweight champion Alvarez believes that a rematch could cost Topuria and the UFC dearly. Alvarez claims Topuria doesn’t deserve a rematch to begin with, but understands why the UFC wants to put him in a big fight.
Alvarez, however, says an immediate rematch wouldn’t be thought of by Topuria given that Gaethje and his team have already broken his style extensively, plus the psychological hurdle of overcoming what happened in their first meeting.
“If somebody knocks you out, you don’t get a rematch,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “It’s got to be close. You’ve got to fight at least another guy… I saw that the UFC wants to crown Topuria. They want that whole market. He’s a big deal; he makes a lot of money for the company. But it could be a disaster for the UFC. If you give him a second chance, Justin and Trevor (Wittman) kind of got his brain. He won’t forget what happened. He won’t forget what happened. PTSD, where he can’t go, he can’t be the same Ilia Topuria that he was before. when Justin knocked him out.
