Eddie Alvarez criticizes potential Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria rematch

Former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez recently voiced strong opposition to a potential rematch between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria. The two fighters previously met at UFC Freedom 250 in June, where Gaethje secured a corner stoppage victory. Despite the nature of the first fight, reports indicate that internal discussions are occurring within the UFC regarding a second encounter, an idea publicly supported by UFC CEO Dana White. Alvarez warned that returning to the cage against Gaethje could have negative psychological and physical consequences for Topuria after the one-sided nature of their initial bout. He suggested that Topuria should instead face a different opponent to rebuild momentum. Gaethje has maintained that he does not intend to fight Topuria again, noting a lack of competitive incentive for such a matchup.

• 2:00 AMYahoo Sports — Eddie Alvarez: Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria rematch could be 'disaster for UFC'