Ilia Topuria Rejects Talk of Justin Gaethje Pulling Major Upset at UFC Freedom 250 Event

Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje (Photo by Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria Rejects Talk of Justin Gaethje Pulling Major Upset at UFC Freedom 250 Event

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 29, 2026 2:39 AM ET

Manager Ali Abdelaziz has been in this business long enough to know how to generate momentum and belief around a fighter. He has seen elite fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and many others make history. Now, ahead of UFC Freedom 250, the manager believes something similar could happen again. And he predicts Justin Gaethje will pull off a shock upset against Ilia Topuria.

Gaethje’s manager went on record declaring that his fighter would shock the world at the UFC White House card on June 14. He hyped up the upset and told anyone listening to stay tuned for something special. Abdelaziz came with a promise, but Topuria came with an emoji.

“Justin Gaethje is going to be @Justin_Gaethje and he will shock the world. Just stay tuned,” Abdelaziz said. To which Topuria replied with a laughing emoji. Just a pure dismissal, wrapped in a laughing face, is the digital equivalent of hearing something so far from reality that words feel unnecessary.

— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) May 29, 2026

June 14 at the White House, a card will settle the argument that an emoji started. Gaethje believes he has the tools to expose Topuria. The champ believes the whole conversation is a joke. One of them is going to be very wrong.

Ilia Topuria Reveals He Built His Game Plan by Thinking Like Justin Gaethje’s Corner

Topuria doesn’t just prepare for what his opponent will do. He prepares by becoming his opponent first. The lightweight champion pulled back the curtain on his approach to the Gaethje fight camp. Before making his own plan, Topuria and his team first tried to figure out what Gaethje would do in the fight.

“The first thing my team and I did was sit down in front of the screen. And look at everything like we were Justin’s team,” Topuria explained. “We created Justin’s strategy, and based on that strategy, we built our own game plan to take away all of his chances,” the champ added.

Ilia Topuria explains how he studies opponents by thinking like their team

“The first thing my team and I did was sit down in front of the screen and look at everything like we were Justin’s team. We asked ourselves how we would advise Justin to fight against Ilia Topuria.… pic.twitter.com/iDaEIrM4oN
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) May 27, 2026

Gaethje has already spoken about the importance of positioning and controlling distance heading into this fight. He knows the danger Topuria presents and has clearly done his own homework. On June 14 at the White House, the card features two fighters who have prepared for each other as thoroughly as the sport allows.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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