Ilia Topuria has returned. And after months of practically silently losing to Justin Gaethje, she has done so by leaving a phrase that threatens to re-abrir all the controversy around UFC Freedom 250.
The Hispanic-Georgian has announced that he is ready to compete again after recovering from the serious injuries suffered that night, but among his messages he has also slipped a suspicion about the gloves worn by Gaethje during the combat.
Topuria has implied that there might have been some irregularity with the American gloves.
It is a particularly delicate accusation and, for the moment, it must be treated exactly as it is: a suspicion expressed by Topuria. There is no public evidence to show that Gaethje modified his gloves, used illegal material or violated the regulations.
Nor is there a resolution on the UFC or a commission that questions the legality of equipment used by the United States.
But it is clear why the words of Topuria will generate conversation.
Gaethje caused him extraordinary damage.
Topuria ended the fight with fractures in both bones, a nasal fracture and other problemssicos After four extremely hard rounds, his corner decided not to go out to the fifth and Gaethje ended the night as a new lightweight champion.
The severity of the punishment was especially surprising because Topuria had previously demonstrated enormous resistance and had never lost as a professional.
During the following months, all kinds of theories appeared on social networks trying to explain the result. None of them showed that there was an irregularity.
It is now Topuria himself who publicly introduces the issue of gloves.
And that inevitably changes the dimension of conversation.
It is one thing that fans analyze pictures or videos looking for explanations after an unexpected defeat. Another very different is that one of the protagonists suggests that something might not be normal.
Even so, two issues need to be separated perfectly.
Gaethje causing enormous damage proves absolutely nothing about his gloves.
"The Highlight" has been one of the most destructive hitters in the world UFC. Its power, especially when it gets clean blows as the rival moves forward, is well documented within the octagono.
In addition, Gaethje himself has recently explained how he tactically prepared the fight.
His team had studied the pace of displacement of Topuria and detectOr patterns they considered predictable. The strategy consisted of controlling space, interrupting its entrances and avoiding constantly going back to the right of the former champion.
It worked.
That is why it would be a mistake to turn the new words of Topuria into a proven explanation of its defeat.
They're not.
The really interesting thing is that they appear precisely when a rematch is back on the table.
Topuria is already medically prepared to compete and UFC A second fight against Gaethje would obviously allow all outstanding accounts to be settled within the octagono.
The alternative remains Paddy Pimblett.
But the latest statements add a completely new layer to the story with Gaethje.
Until now the narrative was simple: Topuria had suffered the first defeat of his career, Gaethje had managed to execute a perfect plan and it remained to be seen how El Matador would respond after the first big setback of his career.
Now there is also an accusation floating around the fighting.
If Topuria has specific information about gloves, it will have to provide it.
If no evidence appears, Gaethje's victory must continue to be treated exactly as an official figure: a legitimate victory achieved after four rounds in which he was superior.
But one thing seems clear.
After months of missing media noise, Ilia Topuria has spoken again.
He's recovered, he wants to go back and he just added fuel to a rematch that already had enough arguments to sell himself.
Yes UFC decides to organize Topuria-Gaethje 2, It won't just be a fight to get the belt back anymore.
It will also be the opportunity to close, within the octagono, a controversy that has just begun.