Justin Gaethje says he’s relishing his underdog status ahead of a high-stakes title unification bout against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.
Gaethje, the interim lightweight champion with a 27-5 MMA and 10-5 UFC record, is set to face undisputed champion Topuria, who holds a 17-0 MMA and 9-0 UFC mark. The main event is scheduled for June 14 at the White House in Washington D.C., with the event listed alongside Paramount+ in the article.
“I love being the underdog. I love being counted out,” Gaethje said, making clear he’s motivated by Topuria’s favored status. He added, “I love the fact that my opponent thinks he's some kind of God or king because I get to bring him down and let him know he's just a human like all of us.”
Topuria, known as “El Matador,” is described as a huge betting favorite and as someone who celebrates victories before entering the cage. Gaethje drew a comparison between Topuria’s mindset and that of Conor McGregor, saying, “This is how he approaches many fights,” and, “He's been successful every time along the road. It's similar to how McGregor approached it in that you're going to make yourself this unbeatable, infallible person, and then when you lose, where do you go from there? So, I can't wait to teach him that lesson.”
