Ali Abdelaziz thinks UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria likely resorts to his wrestling in a potential fight with Justin Gaethje.
Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) has vocalized his opinion on where he stands in the UFC’s lightweight title picture several times, and how he’s owed a championship fight. His manager Abdelaziz agrees, but sees one contender ahead of him.
“Nothing changed. Justin is sticking to his guns,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “I support him 100 percent. It’s the right thing to do to give him a title fight. If they say they’re going to give Arman (Tsarukyan) a title fight before Justin, I say OK. I agree. He’s No. 1. he’s on a crazy winning streak.
“But you can’t tell me you’re going to give anyone (else a title shot) apart Justin outside Arman. It looks like Arman is maybe going to fight (Dan) Hooker, and I think the right thing to do, the body of work Justin Gaethje has done for the UFC, the least you can do for him is give him a title shot against Topuria.”
If Gaethje does end up getting his desired title shot against Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), Abdelaziz warns not to count “The Highlight” out.
“It’s a car crash,” Abdelaziz said of Gaethje vs. Topuria. “Whoever is going to land first is going to go to sleep. This is my opinion. I think Topuria might try to wrestle with Justin, also. I think Justin Gaethje is way too dangerous to just stand in front of and throw punches. But at the end of the day, Topuria is a good striker. Justin is a very powerful striker. He’s very dangerous. Honestly, it’s one of the best fights you can make in the UFC today.”
