Justin Gaethje has been backed to get the next title shot against Ilia Topuria.
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion and BMF titleholder definitely has a case for a title shot at 36 years old. Winner of three out of his last four fights, Justin Gaethje returned to the winner’s circle when he nearly finished top contender Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March.
Gaethje thinks the UFC ‘owes’ him a title opportunity and threatened to retire if he wasn’t given the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
In attendance for the title fight, Gaethje wasn’t given any guarantee he’d be next in line, snubbed of a call-out from the new champion Topuria, who apparently isn’t interested. UFC CEO Dana White also told Gaethje to retire after his title fight ultimatum.
While there’s a chance Gaethje could be passed up by Paddy Pimblett or #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, one of his former foes ‘selfishly’ explains why ‘The Highlight’ should get a title fight.
Eddie Alvarez thinks Justin Gaethje’s leg kicks could work on Ilia Topuria
A performance bonus away from 1 million dollars, Gaethje is undoubtedly one of the UFC’s most exciting and violent fighters.
Just ask Eddie Alvarez, the former UFC Lightweight Champion who handed Gaethje his first pro loss in a ‘fight of the year’ contender in 2017.
Knowing all about Gaethje’s heavy hands and devastating leg kicks, Alvarez joins Rafael Fiziev in wanting to see Gaethje challenge for Topuria’s title next.
“Selfishly, I want Justin,” Alvarez said on The Bohnfire, when asked who Topuria should defend his title against.
“He’s a fan favorite of mine. Unbiased, just watching MMA, I wanna see a Justin Gaethje fight before any other fight, just because of the way he fights.
“This matchup for Justin, I want Justin to be a little more calculated, a little bit less reckless abandonment against a guy like this, a guy that’s dangerous, who’s this planted and [has] good positioning.
“I would like to see how, because I don’t care who you are, I love when Justin starts landing that leg kick and watch really strong violent men start to limp around or start to switch to southpaw…
“He can do it against anyone,” Alvarez said of Gaethje’s leg kicks.
“Justin can beat anyone at any time with that weapon of his. He just smashes that lead leg.”
We’ve seen many fighters struggle with leg kicks while in a boxing stance, like Conor McGregor against Dustin Poirier or Urijah Faber against Jose Aldo, as boxers have their weight on their lead leg.
Eddie Alvarez says Arman Tsarukyan is Ilia Topuria’s ‘biggest challenge’
Arman Tsarukyan is in a similar spot to Justin Gaethje.
The #1 UFC Lightweight contender is 9-1 since losing to Islam Makhachev in his promotional debut and beat Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush in his last two fights.
Tsarukyan was set to challenge for Makhachev’s title at UFC 311 in January, but he withdrew from the bout the day before due to a back injury.
As a result, White has said Tsarukyan will have to fight again for a title shot.
Many like Makhachev’s head coach, Javier Mendez, believe Tsarukyan has the greatest chance to beat Topuria and so does Eddie Alvarez.
“I think the Arman fight really intrigues me,” Alvarez said of potential opponents for Topuria.
“I think that might be a little bit of a tougher matchup for Ilia.
“So challenge-wise, to keep that belt and to keep things everything [prideful] and true… Arman would be the biggest challenge for him right now in the division.
“But, the funnest fight for the fans is Justin Gaethje for sure,” Alvarez admitted.