Justin Gaethje is now Limbo when it comes to photos of UFC lightweight titles.
The main event at UFC 317 on June 28th will feature a vacant 155 pound belt on the line, but Gaethje is not one of the main competitions to compete for it. Instead, the undefeated Topuria fights former champion Charles Oliveira, and has recently been the title left by Islamic Makhachev. Topuria recently emptied his own title, the Featherweight Championship, and chased the second title, with Makhachev moving to Welterweight to fight newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena.
According to UFC broadcaster Jon Anik, who spoke to Gaethje recently, “highlights” weren’t happy to hear the announcement of the UFC 317 headliner.
“He was mad,” Annick said. Annick & Florian Podcast. “He certainly feels he was handed over to Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Toprea. What Justin Gettege and his manager Ali Abderaziz are looking for is May 19th and the good news of this fight for Toprea Oliveira is that he doesn’t imagine it’s not six weeks. What he did against Rafael Fiziev, staying on the fight card and not fighting Dan Hooker, but winning the distance from the UFC 300 results – and he was able to fight in the UFC in the UFC 300 and at that point he was able to fight for a championship that was not contested at that time, so Gaethje wouldn’t be surprised.
“But you can say Justin wasn’t excited.”
Gaethje is the former interim champion who won three of his past four fights. On his recent excursion at UFC 313, he won an unanimous decision in a rematch with Rafael Fizeiev, bounces back to Max Holloway from a brutal knockout loss at UFC 300.
In Oliveira’s recent battle, he defeated Michael Chandler once more. “Do Bronx” was close to stepping into the cage for another title opportunity, but a fight injury kicked him out of a rematch with Makhachev, and then lost a close decision to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 289. Oliveira defeated Gaethje in the fight at UFC 274.
Annik co-host Kenny Florian hopes he will eventually cross paths with Toplia.
“I’m sure Gaethje is upset, but I think the battle between him and Topuria is very interesting,” Florian said. “Of course, Oliveira has to worry about his takedown game. I don’t think Oliveira will replace him for too long if possible, but Topuria and Gaethje guarantee fireworks.
The question of Gaethje is whether they can currently afford to wait for the winner of the UFC 317 main event, or whether they need to risk their spots on the contestant’s line to stay in the mix. The fast rising lightweight paddy pinblet mentions that he wants to face Getteje next, and Annick wonders if it’s the smartest move for Gatche.
“A straight meritocrat, Charles Oliveira has a higher ranking than Justin Geche,” Anik said. “He is a former champion and his recent victory, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira’s recent victory, means that both men have cases, but neither is necessarily ironclad.
“Justin Gettege, I know I want him to fight Paddy Pinblett, but if you’re Justin Gettege in the cusp of fighting for one award that escaped you in this sport, if you’re Justin Gettege, what are you doing in the rankings, guys like Paddy Pinblett will be be-hitting him. Superfacking is healthy and Paddy is even more behind.