The anticipation is building for a thrilling lightweight title showdown at UFC White House, where Ilia Topuria is set to clash with Justin Gaethje on June 14. With Topuria entering the octagon as a nearly 8-1 favorite, the stakes are high, but don’t count out the seasoned veteran Gaethje just yet.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, is keenly watching this matchup unfold. While he acknowledges that Topuria is favored to win, he insists that Gaethje, often referred to as an “old warhorse,” brings invaluable experience to the fight.
“I’m definitely not ruling Gaethje out,” Makhachev expressed during a recent interview with UFC Eurasia. “He has a wealth of experience, but Topuria is younger and hungry for this title.”
Makhachev predicts an electrifying bout that won’t go the distance, leaning towards a Topuria victory. If Topuria triumphs, it could pave the way for a long-anticipated clash between him and Makhachev, a matchup fans have been eagerly discussing for over a year. There were even whispers that this fight was in the works for UFC White House, but both fighters’ teams reportedly have differing views on why it hasn’t materialized.
When asked if a win for Topuria would finally lead to their showdown, Makhachev remained somewhat elusive. “There’s a lot of chatter about this fight,” he noted. “But Topuria and his team are aware of the reasons why it’s not happening at the White House.”
The excitement doesn’t stop there, as UFC White House will also feature an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
As the fight date approaches, fans are left wondering: will this be the moment that sets the stage for a historic matchup between Makhachev and Topuria?
