Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje got heated during a face-to-face interview as the UFC White House main eventers continued to take shots at each other ahead of their fight on Sunday.
What started out as a respectful matchup between champions has dramatically changed in the days leading up to the fight. From Gaethje taking aim at Topuria’s ego and sympathizing with his now ex-wife after going through a very public divorce over the past year to Topuria firing back and even taking aim at Gaethje’s father for making a bold prediction for the fight, the bad blood has definitely started to boil over.
For his part, Gaethje still doesn’t buy that he actually made things personal with whatever he’s said but it really doesn’t matter much because they’re going to fight about it in the octagon on Sunday.
“I think it definitely doesn’t need to be personal,” Gaethje said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Ultimately, we’re going to try to hurt each other and I guess that is pretty personal. But that is the job that we do. I never said anything personal. But we’re very vulnerable when it comes to fight week, we’re very emotional and so we take everything personal.
“So no matter what I said or didn’t say, we’re going to take personal. No matter what he says, I’m going to take personal. Because I have a chip on my shoulder.”
That earned a response from Topuria as he used Gaethje’s words against him.
“I find the first difference here: You’re going to try to hurt me and I’m actually going to hurt you,” Topuria said. “That’s the difference between me and you. You’re going to try to do something and I’m going to do it.
“As I always say, I respect Justin as an opponent. I think he’s done great things in the sport. But there are big differences between me and him. As he said, he’s going to try to do things and I’m going to do it. I’m going to deliver. I’m not going to try to do anything. I’m going to do it.”
Of course, Gaethje could only scoff at those comments while doubling down on one of his biggest issues with Topuria, which is all about his ego and the cocky attitude he’s carrying into the fight.
“He’s a narcissist and believes everything he says,” Gaethje said. “He sits around and smells his own farts and thinks he’s God. He’s human just like me. I’m going to show him. Right when I touch his chin, he’s going to go to sleep just like anybody would whenever I land my shots. I can sit around and say I can predict the future and I know I’m going to knock him out in the second round at 2:10 into the second round but that’s not how this sport works. I’ve done this too many times to go in there with any expectations.
“I’m expecting I’m fighting someone that’s so good at fighting. World class fighter. His last three finishes are absolutely spectacular. I have a huge challenge ahead of me. I’m a 5-to-1 underdog. Of course, the world’s counting me out. I thrive under pressure. I love pressure. I love these situations. I love you knowing you’re going to knock me out because when it goes to the second round and it goes to the third round, you’re going to be like ‘I talked all this shit.’”
Before Gaethje could get another word out, Topuria promised yet again that he wouldn’t allow the fight to make it past the first five minutes.
“There’s never going to be a second or third round,” Topuria said. “That’s not going to happen. I’m going to knock you out in the first round.”
The back-and-forth continued with Topuria vowing to demolish Gaethje in such devastating fashion that the reigning interim lightweight champion would experience something he’s never felt before during his career.
Gaethje effectively rolled his eyes at that comment and he didn’t shy away from admitting he’s already faced the worst possible situations in the UFC but still managed to come back and keep fighting.
“I’ve been knocked out cold,” Gaethje said. “I fought over 30 times. There’s nothing you can show me or make me feel that I haven’t felt before.”
Still, Topuria exuded confidence throughout the exchange and even promised that there’s no chance he would ever shoot for a takedown during this fight — no matter how long it lasts.
In fact, Topuria had no problem revealing his exact strategy to Gaethje before the fight.
“You’re not going to be able to do any f*cking thing,” Topuria said. “There’s a reason I’m the world champion. I talk and I prove it. I talk the talk and I walk the walk. I won the world title three times.
“I’m the king on this screen right now. I’m the motherf*cking champion, not you. So shut the f*ck up. I’m going to put him to sleep in the first round. Don’t blink. Because it’s going to be very quick.”
Gaethje didn’t seem all that impressed by Topuria’s latest prediction but they both seemed more than ready to get to the fight sooner than later.
“So scary, man! So scary!” Gaethje said to Topuria. “That’s what we do! We’re both going to try to f*cking knock each other’s heads off. That’s what this f*cking game is.”
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