Ilia Topuria is calling his shot ahead of UFC Freedom 250, predicting a fast finish when he meets Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title-unification bout on June 14 at The White House.
Topuria enters as the UFC lightweight champion with a 17-0 MMA record and a 9-0 mark in the UFC, while interim titleholder Gaethje brings a 27-5 MMA record and 10-5 UFC slate into the headlining clash. Topuria needed less than three minutes to knock out Charles Oliveira to win the vacant belt at UFC 317 and believes a similar scenario could unfold.
"Now with Justin Gaethje, everyone is saying, 'This is a super easy fight, he's going to get knocked out really fast,' but they're forgetting that Justin Gaethje is a very tough guy with a ton of experience," Topuria said in a translated interview with Alvaro Colmenero.
"It's a tough fight, but at the same time, like we always say, there are levels to this. Everyone has their moment, and I feel like this is my moment, and victory will be mine."
Looking ahead to June 14, Topuria made his prediction clear.
"Based on his fighting style, how he comes out in every fight, I see it ending quickly, honestly. I see it similar to theCharles Oliveirafight because I don't see him as someone who's going to trade and then back up or fight while moving backward. I think he's the kind of guy who offers a fight, and when you do that, I think you're making a mistake. Especially when you're fighting someone like me who has so much technique. Yes, I think it's going to be in the first round."
