"Who should be next: Ilia Topuria Could a lightweight unification bout be in store for June at the White House? Maybe the main event? Topuria is one of the hottest names in MMA, even with his layoff to start 2026. Gaethje is the perfect "All-American" type title challenger to appear at the nation's capital. It's a no-brainer. Gaethje will likely be a significant underdog against Topuria, but he's 9-2 all-time in that role, so it won't bother him."
"Before eyes turn to Oceania, though, questions surround what will be next for the stars of UFC 324 on Saturday. Fan-favorites Justin Gaethje and Sean O'Malley narrowly escaped T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with wins after two epic fights. In Gaethje's case, the win came with an interim championship belt attached, but does that mean lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is his next dance partner? It's not a given."
UFC 324 produced narrow victories that reshaped immediate title picture and contender pathways. Justin Gaethje earned an interim lightweight belt after a close win at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is being positioned as a probable challenger to Ilia Topuria for a unification bout, likely as an underdog despite a 9-2 record when cast in that role. Sean O'Malley and Paddy Pimblett do not have straightforward roads back to title contention. The future trajectories of Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Umar Nurmagomedov, Natalia Silva and Jean Silva will depend on matchmaking and subsequent wins.
Read at ESPN.com
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