{"id":882385,"date":"2026-09-04T00:08:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T00:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/882385\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T00:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T00:08:11","slug":"henry-cejudo-names-the-toughest-matchup-for-justin-gaethje-and-its-not-arman-tsarukyan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/882385\/","title":{"rendered":"Henry Cejudo Names The Toughest Matchup For Justin Gaethje And It’s Not Arman Tsarukyan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Henry Cejudo<\/a> shared his opinion on who would be Justin Gaethje<\/a>\u2018s toughest matchup, and it\u2019s someone who hasn\u2019t even fought once in the UFC. <\/p>\n

Having won the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250<\/a> earlier this year, in June, Gaethje has not fully healed from the injuries sustained in that fight against Ilia Topuria. <\/p>\n

\"JustinWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 JUNE 14: Justin Gaethje strikes Ilia Topuria<\/a> of Spain in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

With his next fight yet to be booked, there\u2019s always been this talk of who could be the biggest threat to his 155lbs crown. In the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound Show, Henry Cejudo weighed in on the same. However, the 39-year-old named a fighter who is yet to make his UFC debut as Gaethje\u2019s biggest threat. <\/p>\n

The fighter in question? Usman Nurmagomedov. Here is what Cejudo had to say: <\/p>\n

The toughest matchup for Justin Gaethje\u2026It is Usman Nurmagomedov. And before then, I was thinking that it was Arman [Tsarukyan]\u2026Justin Gaethje\u2019s dad said something that triggered Ilia [Topuria] \u2013 \u2018Justin Gaethje has a really good time with shorter guys\u2019 \u2013 Fiziev [Rafael], Ilia Topuria, anybody that\u2019s shorter than Justin, Justin kinda tends to have his way. A guy like Usman Nurmagomedov, that\u2019s his biggest matchup\u2026I\u2019m curious to see what a guy like Justin would say, competitively, in the world who is stylistically the toughest matchup for him, and it is Usman Nurmagomedov. <\/p>\n

Check out Henry Cejudo\u2019s comments below:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude2f\ud83d\udca5 Henry Cejudo thinks the biggest threat to Justin Gaethje right now is Usman Nurmagomedov:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe toughest matchup for Justin Gaethje, it is Usman Nurmagomedov.<\/p>\n

Before then it was Arman, but Gaethje\u2019s dad said something that triggered Ilia, Justin Gaethje has a really good\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/CeuOTevRj6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Having fought out of his PFL (MVP MMA) contract following a knockout win over Archie Colgan in July earlier this year, Nurmagomedov is arguably the hottest MMA free agent right now. Most expect him to sign with the UFC soon. <\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje Will not fight again in 2026<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje recently revealed that he will not fight again this year while opening up about the injuries that would keep him out. <\/p>\n

\"JustinWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 JUNE 15: Justin Gaethje celebrates after defeating Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title bout during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is hosting a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on his 80th birthday, which the White House is calling \u201ca once-in-a-generation celebration of the American fighting spirit.\u201d (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Stating that \u2018both of his hands\u2019 still hurt from his fight against Ilia Topuria, Gaethje also added that he still \u2018can\u2019t punch anything. He told Sports Illustrated<\/a>: <\/p>\n

I still can\u2019t punch anything. Both of my hands are still hurt from the fight. So I\u2019m just gonna enjoy being the champion for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n