Justin Gaethje lays out surprise scenario that doesn’t include unification fight against Ilia Topuria

Ahead of his interim lightweight title fight, Justin Gaethje has laid out a potential scenario that would see him inadvertently avoid a fight against Ilia Topuria.

Just a few weeks ago, it was shockingly announced by UFC boss Dana White that lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is taking a break from the sport to deal with personal matters.

And instead of keeping the division held up, the boss revealed that Justin Gaethje will fight Paddy Pimblett in an interim lightweight title fight in the UFC 324 main event.

Even though the plan is for the winner to fight ‘El Matador’ in his return to the sport, ‘The Highlight’ believes there is a potential scenario that will see the winner inadvertently avoid the Spaniard.

Gaethje lays out potential plan that he’s been manifesting

Ever since knocking out Charles Oliveira to become the lightweight champion, Topuria has continued to claim that he would like to follow Islam Makhachev to welterweight for a historic super fight.

And with that in mind, Gaethje believes that if he beats ‘The Baddy’ on January 24, he may even end up being promoted to the undisputed champion, fighting either Oliveira or Max Holloway in a double title fight.

The promotion recently announced that Holloway will defend his BMF title against ‘Do Bronx’ in the main event of UFC 326, and unfortunately for Gaethje, he has losses against both fighters.

However, if he does end up becoming the unified champion, he would potentially get a chance to avenge one of his two losses.

“I guess I don’t really have an opinion (on Topuria’s welterweight plan), I mean, if he went up, I would just be the champion which I’m not gonna complain about,” he told Submission Radio.

“I think what that leaves open is the chance for me to get a rematch against Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira, get my belt and get the BMF belt and ultimately, that was the script I’ve been speaking into existence since the (Rafael) Fiziev fight.

“I thought I was gonna fight Ilia in January and then I was gonna fight Max or whoever had the BMF title on the White House card and then have both of those belts,” he continued.

Gaethje rejects Arman Tsarukyan’s offer to help with UFC 324 camp

Ahead of his clash against the Brit, Gaethje was sent an offer by his lightweight rival, Arman Tsarukyan.

After controversially missing out on the lightweight title shot, ‘Ahalkalakets’ offered Gaethje help with his training camp, partially fuelled by his hatred for Pimblett.

Despite that, ‘The Highlight’ has rejected Tsarukyan’s offer because of the fact that the two may end up meeting each other inside the cage.