Topuria dismisses Gaethje: He's not exciting for me or the fans

Ahead of 1 of the astir important MMA events of the year, the experienced combatant from the USA, who has a drawstring of brutal matches nether his belt, appeared to beryllium ideally positioned to onslaught the lightweight title. His awesome triumph against a pugnacious hostile astatine UFC 313, aft bouncing backmost from a pugnacious nonaccomplishment astatine UFC 300, restored anticipation that fans could spot him again successful a rubric fight.

Fiziev 

After replacing Dan Hooker astatine UFC 313 night, Rafael Fiziev suffered a nonaccomplishment to the 35-year-old knockout, which caused the delight of fans. “The Highlight” has erstwhile again proven himself arsenic a combatant the enactment tin trust on, and the UFC thanked him with different combat of the nighttime bonus — for the 4th clip successful a row. However, his squad sent a wide warning: if helium does not situation for the rubric immediately, it is imaginable that helium volition retreat his hand.

This did not beryllium good with the caput of the organization. Dana White responded directly: "That's crazy." A wide connection that threats, careless of status, bash not spell casual connected the archetypal antheral of the UFC.

Additional disorder was introduced by the chaos that arose aft the combat betwixt Ilija Topuria and Charles Oliveira, successful which the Spaniard defeated the Brazilian by knockout successful the archetypal round. A brawl successful the Octagon followed – Topuria and Pimblett pushed each other, insulted each other, and it instantly became the caller communicative – everyone present wants that match.

"Fighting Justin Gaethje? I don't deliberation that would beryllium thing breathtaking for the fans," Topuria told ESPN aft UFC 317. "We request caller humor successful the division. We request caller faces, hungrier than what we're utilized to."

He didn't halt there: 

"There's nary constituent successful maine warring idiosyncratic similar Gaethje, who comes from the aged school, you know? I privation to cleanable up the part a small bit, caller faces, caller guys. It's going to beryllium precise interesting."

It is encouraging for the assemblage that 27-year-old Topuria announced his instrumentality to the Octagon by the extremity of the year, present that helium nary longer has to conflict with losing weight. Even if the UFC awards him Pimblett, a combat with the erstwhile champion could travel successful aboriginal 2025.

However, the contention is not sleeping. Arman Tsarukyan and others are impatiently waiting for their 5 minutes. If the concern does not change, the combatant from Arizona whitethorn person to rotation up his sleeves erstwhile again and beryllium that helium deserves a chance.