Contender Rafael Fiziev has made headlines by questioning Justin Gaethje's fitness following his interim title win at UFC 324, suggesting that he didn't look 100% fit during the fight. Fiziev hinted that factors such as a possible staph or simply age could have slowed Gaethje's pace, and that a fight against Ilia Topuria could be even more challenging if he doesn't improve physically. These statements have ignited debate about Gaethje's longevity and future capabilities at lightweight.