Justin Gaethje Thinks Two Factors Can Negate Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250

Interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje faces an uphill task at the White House on June 14. He is heading into his title unification bout with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria as a sizable underdog. However, the ‘Highlight’ believes that being wary of two variables can help him get the upset victory at UFC Freedom 250.

So far, ‘El Matador’ has met with very little resistance in the UFC. He has been dropped only once in his UFC career by a beautifully placed head kick from Jai Herbert. But even that is a blip on the former featherweight champion’s undefeated record. All of the Spaniard’s opponents have had a tough time mounting consistent offense against him.

However, the 37-year-old American believes he has found the key to negating the pound-for-pound No. 2’s game. The ‘Highlight’ shared this during an interview with John Morgan, telling the host that distance and positioning hold the key to defeating Topuria.

I’ve really got to be careful. He’s shorter than me, and you really don’t want your head to be too much higher than guys who are throwing missiles at you. Positioning is going to be the biggest factor in this fight. I have to be very stubborn with my positioning, control the space, control his feet, and really be diligent with my defense.

Justin Gaethje via John Morgan

Justin Gaethje says distance and positioning will be key against Ilia Topuria 🎯

"I’ve really got to be careful. He’s shorter than me, and you really don’t want your head to be too much higher than guys who are throwing missiles at you.

Positioning is going to be the biggest… pic.twitter.com/6wU8KUsFjx

— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) May 23, 2026

This is quite an astute breakdown from Gaethje. A huge problem Ilia Topuria presents is his ability to plant and throw long combinations. The Spaniard’s impeccable footwork allows him to remain perfectly balanced and generate monstrous power in his punches. Moreover, the double champion off-balances his foes by getting them to lunge at him from a distance before landing some nasty counters.

If Justin Gaethje can truly mitigate the problems that the UFC lightweight champion presents, he can put up a much better fight than the odds would suggest. That said, the former Division 1 wrestler has historically been known to throw caution to the wind and trade with his opponents.

However, Gaethje has demonstrated in bouts like the second Dustin Poirier fight that he can commit to and execute a game plan. Even so, despite being knocked out by that version of the interim champion, Poirier believes chaos will help his former opponent in his upcoming fight.

Dustin Poirier sees chaos as Justin Gaethje’s path to beating Ilia Topuria

There is perhaps no fighter with a nickname more apt than the ‘Highlight’. Justin Gaethje’s early career was a veritable highlight reel of nasty knockouts and gruesome exchanges. However, as the American started facing better competition, he switched over to a more calculated approach.

This switch-up brought him success late in his career against up-and-coming fighters like Paddy Pimblett and Rafael Fiziev. However, his former opponent, Dustin Poirier, thinks the old Gaethje needs to return at the White House card next month.

The retired lightweight believes a clean, technical fight favors Ilia Topuria in this upcoming title unification bout. The Lafayette native suggested on the Deep Waters podcast that his former rival needs to make the fight messy to throw off Topuria’s rhythm and hopefully land a decisive shot.

There’s not enough time technically for him to sharpen up and outbox, outpoint Ilia on the feet. He needs it to be chaos, he needs it to be a brawl, and he needs to land that shot. I don’t know if he wins, but that’s his best chance….I kind of think he needs the brawl, the coin toss, where he can land something in the mix. He needs the chaos.

Dustin Poirier via Deep Waters podcast

Poirier cited his own experience fighting the interim champion and admitted that he needed to employ calf kicks against El Matador. MMA legend Eddie Alvarez, who has also previously faced Gaethje, suggested that his leg kicks would be the most effective weapon against the undisputed lightweight champion’s boxing-heavy style.

All that said, with the elite MMA minds in his camp, it is likely that Ilia Topuria has accounted for all of this and more in his preparations for the White House card. After all, the Spaniard revealed that he has made it a point not to underestimate his upcoming opponent’s “weird” style.

Also Read:

• Ilia Topuria Eyes Conor McGregor Superfight Once the Irishman Gets Past Max Holloway
• Mastermind in Ilia Topuria’s Training Camp Exposes Weakness of Justin Gaethje