“You Might Ruin His Life”: Matt Brown Warns UFC Against Immediate Gaethje vs. Topuria Rematch
Matt Brown does not like the idea of Ilia Topuria getting an immediate rematch against Justin Gaethje simply because of the damage the Spaniard took in the first fight.
Former UFC welterweight knockout artist Matt Brown is the model of longevity in the organization, and his latest piece of advice for matchmakers comes with a heavy dose of reality. Following recent whispers that the promotion is actively exploring an immediate rematch between champion Justin Gaethje and former featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria, Brown issued a stark warning: booking that fight right away could end up permanently altering Topuria’s life.
The concern stems from their grueling war at the UFC White House card in June, where Gaethje delivered a relentless, violent performance that ended with Topuria’s corner throwing in the towel after four brutal rounds. Topuria suffered two broken orbitals, a broken nose, and a broken foot in the defeat, marking his first loss inside the Octagon.
While combat sports promoters love running back massive, lucrative fights, Brown believes rushing the 29-year-old superstar straight back into the lion's den with one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA history would be a catastrophic mistake.
Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, Brown laid out the human cost behind matchmakers chasing another pay-per-view blockbuster.
"I get where the UFC is coming from on that is my point, and I get why the UFC would want to make that fight," Brown explained. "The downside of that fight is that you might ruin Ilia Topuria's life. If that first fight repeats itself, I'm not sure Ilia ever comes back the same. I'm not sure if he comes back the same from the first one already."
Rebuilding Confidence Over Immediate Rematches
Brown argued that rather than forcing an immediate rematch against a wrecking ball like Gaethje, the promotion should look toward boxing traditions by granting Topuria a manageable return fight to rebuild his confidence, suggesting top-ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano as a far more sensible option.
"He needs a proper return fight," Brown emphasized. "You see it in boxing all the time, guys don't come back from wars like that."
Gaethje holds a 28-5 professional record with 20 career wins by knockout, while Topuria stands at 17-1 with eight knockouts. Gaethje himself has shown little interest in running it back immediately, pointing toward Arman Tsarukyan as a more deserving lightweight contender while recovering from lingering hand injuries.
For Topuria, taking proper time to recover physically and mentally remains paramount. Rushing him back into the Octagon against Gaethje might satisfy short-term fan demand, but as Brown emphatically pointed out, the long-term cost to his health and career could prove steep.
