Jon Anik cites potential "internal conversations" in the UFC about Ilia Topuria's rematch with Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje clashed in a grueling UFC lightweight championship unification fight at UFC Freedom 250 back in June. Here, in September, speculation has intensified that the UFC could be looking to book an immediate title rematch between Topuria and Gaethje. 

UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has seemingly alluded to the rumors and suggested that the aforementioned potential rematch might be internally discussed by the UFC brass. 

Jon Anik hints at internal conversations about Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria 2 after their epic UFC Freedom 250 clash

In a recent post on the Anik Bros YouTube channel, UFC commentator Jon Anik and his twin brother Jason Anik addressed former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria's imminent return to the Octagon and the lightweight title picture. 

Jon Anik made an allusion that Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett is being named by many fans as a candidate to welcome Topuria back to the Octagon. The Liverpudlian got into an infamous hotel altercation with the Georgian-Spaniard Topuria back in 2022 and even sparked controversy with his remarks concerning the history of the Russo-Georgian conflict. 

Also, Pimblett is coming off a dominant submission win over Benoit Saint Denis. Considering the elements at play, some believe that the long-awaited grudge match between the Englishman and Topuria could be their respective next fight. 

Nevertheless, Jon Anik appeared to reference the rumors about the Gaethje-Topuria rematch. He stated: 

"I think there are internal conversations to potentially try to do Gaethje vs. Topuria 2. A lot of people wonder aloud what is next for Ilia Topuria. And there is certainly an obvious foundation for a fight between him and Paddy Pimblett."

Anik added, "But if you have Ilia Topuria, as a fight promoter, would you not wanna maybe think about putting him back in a championship setting, given how big UFC Freedom 250 was?" 

Anik indicated that BMF champion and ex-UFC lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira could fight Pimblett, perhaps with the BMF belt at stake. Additionally, Arman Tsarukyan is already booked to face Mauricio Ruffy in the co-headlining match of UFC 331 on September 19. He implied that both those matchups could be No. 1 contender fights. 

The UFC personality emphasized the magnitude of a Gaethje-Topuria rematch, noting, "A rematch would be absolutely enormous. And I guess, predictively, that's what I think is going to happen."

Watch Jon Anik and Jason Anik discuss the possible rematch between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje below: 

Ilia Topuria's detailed public message coincides with the renewed speculation about his rematch with Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria was beaten via fourth-round TKO against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, which marked "El Matador's" first MMA loss and fetched Gaethje the UFC lightweight championship. 

The fight's immediate aftermath saw rumors swirl about their rematch, but Gaethje has, to this day, scoffed at that. The American even lately pointed out that his hands haven't fully healed yet, and he's unlikely to defend the lightweight belt this year. 

Furthermore, Ilia Topuria recently put forth a detailed public message to his son, Hugo, about the high-profile defeat and his expected comeback. Some fans have cited that, since his return to the public eye with his video message, there's been a noticeable uptick in the speculation surrounding his rematch with Gaethje. 

Presently, neither Topuria nor Gaethje's respective next fights and comeback opponents have been officially announced by the UFC. Topuria's facial injuries are also said to have healed well, fueling talks that his comeback could be on the cards, potentially in early 2027.