Tom Aspinall issues statement on rumored UFC departure after coach's recent claims
Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje says one of Ilia Topuria's patterns was a major factor in pulling off the title fight upset.
Justin Gaethje could potentially make his first UFC lightweight title defense later this year against the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy winner. Gaethje handed Ilia Topuria his first career loss by TKO at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this year.
After accomplishing one of the most surprising feats in UFC history, Gaethje is looking to add more accolades to his resume. While a rematch with Topuria is unlikely to happen next, play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik recently hinted that it's under serious consideration by the matchmakers.
Gaethje's aggressive approach to the first Topuria fight was a major factor in his successful title win. For one of the few times since UFC Freedom 250, Gaethje has opened up about what he and his team focused on to prepare for Topuria.
Justin Gaethje reveals Ilia Topuria's major pattern that played a key role in UFC upset
In a recent appearance on the MightyCast podcast, Gaethje was asked about the Topuria fight and a main fixture of his game plan for UFC Freedom 250.
“I guess the best explanation for you to understand is his feet never change rhythms,†Gaethje said of Topuria.
“He never changes rhythm with his feet. It's always pop, pop, pop, pop, and it's forwards or backwards. He's very rarely moving laterally, and that's how he fights.
“So ultimately it's like timing his feet and interrupting. The game plan was to interrupt his feet, especially when it's so constant. It's very easy to predict, and I've never seen him alter from that.†(h/t MMA Fighting)
As of this writing, a timeline for Topuria's return to the Octagon remains uncertain. Joe Rogan recently cautioned Topuria against making a swift return to the Octagon to run it back with Gaethje.
Who should Justin Gaethje fight next? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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
Kurtis
Campbell can't see his opponents clearly inside the
Octagon.
Campbell wears considerably thick-lensed glasses when out of
competition. The Liverpool native seems to be heavily dependent on
them, putting them back on immediately after his fights. Campbell
recently revealed that his eyesight is poor and that his opponents
appear blurry to him until they get close.
Kurtis Campbell explains why his UFC opponents appear blurry
across the Octagon
While Campbell tried contact lenses when he was young, he was too
nervous to put them in. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight eventually got
used to fighting without contact lenses and prefers it this way
now.
“My eyesight is really bad, but at the same time I love my
glasses,†Campbell told Ariel Helwani. “I would never change them…
I tried contacts when I was younger, but I was always too nervous;
I couldn't put them in. So, I got used to fighting without them and
I don't think I've ever gone back since. I've always preferred it
that way… Because of how big the UFC cage is, [my opponent] is
blurry and then once we get closer, it gets a little better.â€
Campbell (9-1) earned his UFC contract with a first-round technical
knockout win on
Dana White's Contender Series last year. He then suffered a
knockout loss to Danny Silva
in his UFC debut in London this past March. “The Pink Pantherâ€
rebounded with a dominant submission win over Trevor Peek
at
UFC Paris.
Kurtis
Campbell reveals just how bad his eyesight is and why he still
refuses to wear contacts during fights despite struggling to see
his opponent clearly:
“My eyesight is really bad, but at the same time I love my
glasses… Because of how big the UFC cage is, [my opponent] is…
pic.twitter.com/xK8YqrzWkM
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
September 9, 2026
PFL will crown its bantamweight champion on Dec. 19 in Lyon, France, when Taylor Lapilus faces off with Mitch McKee for the inaugural 135-pound belt in the main event of the last PFL card before merging with MVP in 2027, the promotion announced Wednesday.
Lapilus (25-4) won four in a row under the PFL banner after parting ways with the UFC on a two-fight winning streak, topping Jake Hadley in his most recent bout this past May. The 34-year-old French bantamweight was victorious in six of eight bouts over two stints in the UFC.
“My whole career has led to this moment,†Lapilus stated in a release. “I'm here to become champion, leave my mark on this sport, and cement my legacy. And when I look back, I want to know I was part of the moment everything changed for French MMA. This is more than a title fight. This is history in the making.â€
McKee (11-0) is a decorated wrestler and undefeated MMA prospect who earned a shot at the PFL gold after beating former Bellator titleholder Sergio Pettis via decision in April, his first appearance under the company's banner after a successful 8-0 run in LFA.
“Fighting for a PFL world title is exactly why I came here,†McKee said. “Taylor is a great fighter, he's experienced, and I know fighting him in France means I'm walking into his backyard. I wouldn't want it any other way. I've believed from day one that I'm the best bantamweight in the PFL, and in December I get the opportunity to prove it. I'm going to Lyon to bring that belt home.â€
The final four PFL shows before the transition under the MVP name are scheduled for Oct. 16 in Chicago, followed by a pair of November events before the last trip to Lyon.
“Lyon has become one of the great fight cities in the world, and the energy French fans bring for their athletes is palpable,†MVP CEO John Martin stated in a release. “On December 19, fans will have the opportunity to see one of their own fight for a world championship as Taylor Lapilus takes on the biggest test of his career in the undefeated Mitch McKee. … The night will also mark a major milestone for our company as the final event under the PFL banner before we move forward as MVP in 2027. I can't think of a better city or a better stage for it.â€