Charles Oliveira Eyes Justin Gaethje Title Shot After Topuria Upset

Q: Will Oliveira's next fight be a BMF defense against McGregor or a double-title showdown with new champion Justin Gaethje?

Oliveira’s next fight is more likely to be a double-title bout with new lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, but it is not officially confirmed. The strongest evidence is Oliveira’s own stated priority. After Gaethje’s title win over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, Oliveira publicly pushed for a rematch with Gaethje and said he wants both the lightweight title and his BMF belt on the line. He has said he believes he should be next and is waiting for the UFC’s call. That makes a Gaethje fight the clearest direction from Oliveira’s side. A BMF defense against Conor McGregor appears less immediate. McGregor is already booked to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in a welterweight rematch. Oliveira did discuss that matchup and acknowledged a McGregor fight could become relevant later, especially if McGregor wins, but there is no indication that Oliveira vs. McGregor has been scheduled or is the current plan. There is still some uncertainty around the lightweight title picture. Oliveira’s earlier loss to Arman Tsarukyan could complicate his claim to the next shot, and Topuria has also signaled interest in a rematch after losing the belt. So while Oliveira is actively campaigning for Gaethje, the UFC has not finalized his next opponent. As of June 24, 2026, the most credible expectation is Oliveira pursuing a Gaethje double-title showdown, not a McGregor BMF defense.

Q: How did Justin Gaethje pull off UFC's biggest upset against undefeated champion Ilia Topuria at the historic White House event?

Justin Gaethje pulled off the upset by surviving Ilia Topuria’s most dangerous stretch, then turning the fight into the kind of punishing, high-pressure battle that favored him. At UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026, on the White House South Lawn, Topuria entered as an undefeated champion and a heavy betting favorite. The pivotal moment came in the second round, when Topuria badly hurt Gaethje with a liver shot. Rather than pressing exclusively for a finish on the feet, Topuria followed him to the mat and chased submissions, giving Gaethje valuable time to recover. From there, Gaethje steadily took over. He increased the pace, forced exchanges, and landed the heavier, more damaging shots. By the later rounds, his pressure and durability had changed the fight. He reportedly landed 91 significant strikes, more than any previous Topuria opponent, and badly damaged the champion’s face. The cumulative effect was decisive. Topuria suffered severe swelling and broken orbital bones, and his vision was reportedly compromised in both eyes. Although he made it through four rounds, the damage was too great. After Round 4, with Gaethje ahead on the scorecards and Topuria unable to continue, the fight was stopped for a TKO. The result made Gaethje the undisputed lightweight champion and, as Charles Oliveira said, “possibly the biggest upset in UFC history,” given Topuria’s unbeaten record, championship status, and the pre-fight odds.

3 articles · Updated · The Action Network · Jun 16

Charles Oliveira said he believes he is next in line for a UFC lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje in an interview with Action Network.
Oliveira also weighed in on Ilia Topuria's shock defeat, calling it possibly the biggest upset in UFC history and saying he personally lost a bet after picking Topuria.
The former champion used the interview to discuss other marquee UFC storylines, including a potential White House card and a possible Conor McGregor return against Max Holloway.
The comments position Oliveira at the center of several upcoming UFC narratives, with his Gaethje title hopes now the most immediate competitive focus.