Dana White: Ilia Topuria ‘ready to fight’ but no decision yet on potential opponents

Ilia Topuria is signaling his readiness to return to competition following his first professional loss at the UFC White House event in June, when his corner stopped the fight against Justin Gaethje after the fourth round. Topuria had absorbed significant damage during the bout and spent the following months recovering from multiple injuries while remaining largely out of the public eye—until recently posting on social media with the declaration "we are back!"

UFC President Dana White confirmed that the promotion has maintained regular contact with Topuria throughout his recovery and is prepared to move forward whenever the former two-division champion is ready. "Topuria's ready to fight, we're ready for him," White told The Jim Rome Show, though he acknowledged that no opponent has been formally scheduled yet.

Several compelling options are being discussed for Topuria's next bout. The most obvious storyline would be an immediate rematch with Gaethje, capitalizing on the intensity and controversy of their first meeting. However, Gaethje has shown little appetite for a quick turnaround against Topuria following how decisively the first fight ended. Another intriguing possibility is a long-awaited showdown with Paddy Pimblett, who has been calling for that matchup for years and shares a genuine animosity with the Spanish fighter.

White indicated the UFC views both options favorably, suggesting that either fight would serve the promotion's interests well. "They're both great fights," White said of a potential Gaethje rematch and Pimblett showdown. "We don't lose with either one of those fights." Despite losing his belt to Gaethje, Topuria remains one of the UFC's most popular and marketable fighters, making his return a significant priority as the promotion charts its next move for one of the roster's biggest stars.