New: Joe Rogan just sat down with UFC champion Justin Gaethje who dropped the cold truth that Ilia Topuria may never become champion again:
ROGAN: “Ilia still might go down as the greatest fighter of all time. He’s only 29 years old.”
GAETHJE: “The odds of that happening are so low now.”
ROGAN: “Because he lost to you?”
GAETHJE: “He has the skills to do it, but I broke his identity. I did the same thing to Tony Ferguson.
When you show the world how to beat fighters that look unbeatable it changes how future opponents will perceive them. His opponents will have confidence now because they know he’s beatable.”
ROGAN: “That’s interesting. That was what happened to Mike Tyson in his prime and also guys like Anderson Silva and Ronda Rousey.”
GAETHJE: “It’s going to be such a tough task now that he has to fight people that aren’t scared of him.”
ROGAN: “The reports are saying that he has two fractured orbitals and a broken nose.”
🚨 Ipswich Town working to finalise appointment of Gary O’Neil as head coach. #ITFC in positive talks with 43yo + BlueCo; possible announcement early next. Well regarded for work at #AFCB#WWFC#RCSA. Would bring Tim Jenkins + Neil Critchley @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/xneQ5qNpPV
🚨 Ilia Topuria just released a statement following the loss to Justin Gaethje last night
"Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did.
You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too.
No excuses.
I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night.
That’s the nature of this game. Glory and pain walk side by side.
I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous.
And trust me… this story between us is far from over.
We will have our rematch."
MMA is crazy because Justin looked trash against Paddy and looked like he only won because he was leagues ahead as a fighter. Then he shows up looking technically sharp and smart, but also pretty much top shape physically.
You can never count an elite guy after a few shaky fights