Justin Gaethje Compares Ilia Topuria to Conor McGregor Ahead of UFC Freedom 250 Showdown
2 min read
Justin Gaethje has compared Ilia Topuria (left) to Conor McGregor (right). [Images via UFC]
Justin Gaethje has recently claimed in an interview that his upcoming opponent, Ilia Topuria, is following the same path as former two-weight champion Conor McGregor.
Gaethje is set to face Topuria in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14. At 37, this is most likely his last opportunity to grab undisputed UFC gold. ‘The Highlight’ competed for the lightweight title on two previous occasions, but fell short both times.
His opponent, Topuria, is currently one of the hottest topics in mixed martial arts. With a perfect 17-0 record, ‘El Matador’ has breezed past most of his opponents, securing highlight-reel finishes against the likes of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
Topuria has immense confidence in his abilities and has formed a habit of believing that he has defeated his opponents before stepping into the cage. Speaking about the Georgian-Spaniard’s attitude, Gaethje said:
“This is how Ilia approaches many of his fights. He’s been successful every time along the way. It’s similar to how McGregor approached fights. You make yourself out to be this unbeatable, infallible person, and then when you lose, where do you go from there? I can’t wait to teach him that lesson.”
Check out Justin Gaethje’s comments below:
Justin Gaethje believes Ilia Topuria is following the same path Conor McGregor once did 👀😲
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) June 2, 2026
"This is how Ilia approaches many of his fights. He's been successful every time along the way. It's similar to how McGregor approached fights. You make yourself out to be this… pic.twitter.com/AWP357keuq
Ilia Topuria arranged a funeral-themed event for Justin Gaethje
Topuria recently made headlines after sharing an Instagram post where he staged a funeral-themed event featuring photos of his previous three opponents and Justin Gaethje. Unlike the red roses he reserved for his past opponents, the 29-year-old has set aside a special white rose for Gaethje. Topuria captioned the post:
“The White House. A white rose. And a nap in its gardens. Not many can say that, Justin.”
Check out Ilia Topuria’s post below:
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