It sounds like Justin Gaethje should be expecting the most violent Ilia Topuria to date in Washington D.C. this June.
The UFC lightweight champion is set to make his first defense in just over one month’s time, having not competed since his crowning in June 2025.
Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to become the promotion’s tenth-ever double champion, but his plans to cement his position on the lightweight throne were delayed by personal issues.
After solving things during his layoff, ‘El Matador’ will return to unify the titles against interim champ Gaethje, who the Spaniard said is in for a rough ride at the White House.
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Ilia Topuria will be fighting for the ‘arts’ and not money for the first time at UFC White House
Gaethje beat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 to become a two-time interim titleholder and earn the right to challenge Topuria next.
‘The Highlight’ will have his third shot at undisputed status in the main event of the UFC’s White House card on June 14.
Many are predicting Topuria to continue his brutal streak of knockouts inside the Octagon, and the champ himself is even more confident of ending things early given his new mindset.
“After my last fight, I’ve moved past a place where I was doing everything out of necessity,” Topuria said during an interview with El Nuevo Herald.
“For the first time in my life, I’m going to step into the Octagon where my life doesn’t depend on what happens in there.
“Thank God for giving me the stability where neither I nor my children will ever lack anything,” he continued. “So now you’re going to see a different Ilia. You’re going to see El Matador, not at 100 percent but at 200 percent. Someone who truly enjoys the art.
“If I was dangerous before, now I’m extremely dangerous.”
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Before putting Oliveira out cold in his return to lightweight, Topuria had knocked out Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in consecutive featherweight fights.
If he is successful in sending Gaethje to that same fate, ‘El Matador’ plans to turn his attention to the champion above.
After seeing Islam Makhachev move up to welterweight just as he arrived at 155 pounds, Topuria is hoping to follow the Dagestani up in pursuit of a historic three-division achievement.