MMA legend Eddie Alvarez has said that he believes Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria 2 could turn out to be a disaster for the UFC.

Ever since Ilia Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje, many have been wondering what's next for him. An immediate rematch seemed out of the question given the beating he took, but recent reports are suggesting that this is exactly the direction the UFC is heading in.

RELATED: Justin Gaethje doubts Arman Tsarukyan injured his back prior to nixed 2025 title shot: “He wasn't gonna make weightâ€

For Gaethje, this won't be too much of a concern given how the first fight played out, but it's certainly a risk when you consider that Topuria did have him hurt on a few occasions.

In a recent interview, Eddie Alvarez, a former foe of Justin Gaethje, had the following to say about the idea.

Alvarez's view on Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria 2

“No (there shouldn't be a rematch),†Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “He beat the sh*t out of him. If someone beats the sh*t out of you, you don't get a rematch. It needs to be close. He beat the sh*t out of him. You don't get a rematch. You have to at least fight another guy. That was bad. I could see the UFC wanting to crown Topuria. They want that whole market. The guy's a big deal and he makes a lot of money and he can make a lot of money for the company. But it could be a disaster for the UFC. Giving him that other shot, Justin and Trevor (Wittman) kind of got his number, and he's not just going to go in and forget about what just happened.

“His brain is still going to suffer a form of PTSD where it's not going to be able to go. There's going to be a governor on certain things like, ‘Woah, wait a minute.' He's not going to be that same exact Ilia Topuria he was before Justin beat the sh*t out of him. I think he needs to take on a lesser opponent, build up that confidence again and come back and renew his faith in what he can do. Don't just go away. Even if he thinks, ‘I'm over that.' Your brain is still heavily on that especially considering the amount of damage.â€

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Do you agree with Eddie? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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Regina
Tarin feels divine intervention led her to pursue a
professional mixed martial arts career.

Tarin (8-0) tried professional boxing and even considered a
pro-wrestling career before an opportunity in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship presented itself. She is
scheduled to fight J.J. Aldrich
(15-7) at
Noche UFC 4 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale,
Arizona, in her second Octagon appearance.

Regina Tarin explains how WWE tryouts and a three-day UFC offer
changed her career

Tarin was scheduled to fight on
Dana White's Contender Series last year. However, the bout was
canceled and she then got a call from the WWE soon after. Tarin
participated in their tryouts this past January, and while she was
almost set on a WWE career, she asked God if she had chosen the
right career path.

The undefeated Mexican then got a call from the UFC to make a debut
on three days' notice. That was the moment that Tarin knew she was
destined for MMA. “Kill Bill†defeated Ernesta
Kareckaite via unanimous decision in her UFC debut this past
February.

“I had a Contender Series fight that got canceled and WWE called
me,†Tarin told Full Send MMA. “I thought, ‘OK, maybe [MMA] is not
my sport; I can try WWE.' But spoke to God and said, ‘Please tell
me if I chose the correct sport.' Then UFC called me on three days'
notice. That's the exact moment when I thought MMA is for me.â€

Tarin has finished six of her eight pro wins so far. The
21-year-old is a -250 favorite going into her bout against Aldrich,
who is on a two-fight winning streak.

21 year old UFC fighter Regina
Tarin reveals the moment she chose to pursue a career in the
UFC over WWE

“I had a Contender Series fight that got canceled and WWE called
me. I had a conversation with God and asked if I chose the right
sport. UFC then called me on 3 days notice†pic.twitter.com/rauNeumB7O

— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma)
September 9, 2026

Security had to separate Tommy
McMillen and Marwan
Rahiki during their run-in at the fighter hotel days before
their clash.

McMillen (11-0) and Rahiki (9-0) are set to collide in a highly
anticipated matchup of undefeated
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweights at
Noche UFC 4 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale,
Arizona.

Tommy McMillen details altercation with Marwan Rahiki before
Noche UFC 4

Bad blood is brewing between the two unbeaten 145-pounder prospects
and they've taken several shots at one another before fight week.
McMillen previously said he's ready to brawl with Rahiki in a
parking lot and doubts whether the Moroccan would be ready to do
the same.

The American now claims to have already had a run-in with Rahiki
inside an elevator at the fighter hotel. McMillen says he was with
his brother and his striking coach when he met Rahiki, who had
eight teammates with him.

“I popped up here in the elevator and that's the first kid I saw,â€
McMillen said at Noche UFC 4 media day. “He was there with eight of
his teammates and I'm sitting here with my little brother Jono and
my striking coach, JJ. I got right in his face; he tried to touch
me, I pushed him right out of my face. I told him he looks like a
scrawny little b*tch, Saturday night I'm gonna make him look like
my little brother… Security had to break it up. I don't like that
kid; he doesn't like me. He thinks it's all fun and games. I'm the
kid that would actually fight this kid in a parking lot. He's not
like that at all; he's a p*ssy. I'd assume he's not stupid enough
to think this is an act. I kind of just punked him in the elevator
with eight of his friends and showed him it's not an act. I'll
fight him in front of his whole f*cking team. This kid's not on the
same level as me.â€

Footage of the altercation shows both parties trading barbs and
gently shoving each other while officials try to separate them.
Both McMillen and Rahiki have two finishes each in as many UFC
outings. While McMillen has finished 10 of his 11 career wins,
Rahiki has never seen the judges' scorecards in his nine career
wins.

Video of Tommy
McMillen and Marwan
Rahiki running into each other at the fighter hotel in Arizona
just dropped 😳

🎥 JTMedia/IG pic.twitter.com/rkJp4HbKjT

— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma)
September 9, 2026