Written by Henry Cejudo could see Justin Gaethje emerge as the No. 1 contender after UFC 313.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) rematches Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+).
Gaethje knows UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is seeking new blood, and “The Highlight” is yet to fight him. Ilia Topuria vacated his featherweight title for a move up to 155 pounds, but Cejudo recalls his conversation with Khabib Nurmagomedov, and how he thinks Topuria needs at least one win before a title shot.
“I just feel like there’s a statement that Justin Gaethje needs to do, that wants to do,” Cejudo said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “This is what I love about Justin. He’s creating a storyline of him saying that if I go out and perform, I am going to skip Ilia Topuria and I am going to fight Islam Makhachev. I love it.
“I do believe it could actually happen because when I sat down with Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and I asked, ‘Does Ilia Topuria deserve a title shot at 155 pounds?’ you know what Khabib said? ‘He needs to fight the No. 1 contender.’ So I do believe with a great victory for Justin Gaethje, that he can slide in there and tell Ilia Topuria, ‘Move out of the way. This is my turn. You’ve got to fight the No. 1 contender.”
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) recently teased news that he says will surprise everyone.
“When we announce it, you won’t believe it. Get ready.”
When we announce it, you won’t believe it. Get ready.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) March 6, 2025
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.