Henry Cejudo shared his opinion on who would be Justin Gaethje‘s toughest matchup, and it’s someone who hasn’t even fought once in the UFC.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Justin Gaethje strikes Ilia Topuria 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)

With his next fight yet to be booked, there’s 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’s biggest threat.

The fighter in question? Usman Nurmagomedov. Here is what Cejudo had to say:

The toughest matchup for Justin Gaethje…It is Usman Nurmagomedov. And before then, I was thinking that it was Arman [Tsarukyan]…Justin Gaethje’s dad said something that triggered Ilia [Topuria] – ‘Justin Gaethje has a really good time with shorter guys’ – Fiziev [Rafael], Ilia Topuria, anybody that’s shorter than Justin, Justin kinda tends to have his way. A guy like Usman Nurmagomedov, that’s his biggest matchup…I’m 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.

Check out Henry Cejudo’s comments below:

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.

Justin Gaethje Will not fight again in 2026

Justin Gaethje recently revealed that he will not fight again this year while opening up about the injuries that would keep him out.

WASHINGTON, DC – 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 “a once-in-a-generation celebration of the American fighting spirit.” (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Stating that ‘both of his hands’ still hurt from his fight against Ilia Topuria, Gaethje also added that he still ‘can’t punch anything. He told Sports Illustrated:

I still can’t punch anything. Both of my hands are still hurt from the fight. So I’m just gonna enjoy being the champion for the rest of the year.

Gerard Crispin

Gerard Crispin is an editor and writer with expertise across MMA, Football, Tennis, Cricket, NBA and F1. He has published over 3500 articles in Combat Sports, across multiple websites, viz. Sportskeeda, FanSided MMA, MediaReferee, FirstSportz and PFSN. Crispin currently covers UFC for LowKickMMA.