Ilia Topuria surprises and praises Justin Gaethje before UFC fight: 'One of my favorites'

Ilia Topuria He is the UFC lightweight champion. Photo: Instagram / UFC

PUBLICITY:

Ilia Topuria, it seems, will have the challenge of facing an idol in UFC White House, scheduled for June 14th. The Spaniard is slated to headline the event and faces... Justin gaethje In a fight valid for the lightweight title (up to 70,3 kg). Despite showing confidence in a knockout victory, the athlete admits his admiration for the American.

In an interview with Brett Okamoto, Topuria revealed that he likes Gaethje's fighting style, noting that he watches a large portion of his performances and considers him one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the UFC.

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Yes, I watched almost all of the fights. Justin gaethje"For me, as a fan, he's one of my favorites to watch," he said. Ilia Topuria.

Ilia Topuria updates her record and adds a victory over Gaethje, even before the fight.

Topuria celebrates her UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

PUBLICITY:

Although he admires his rival's style, his confidence Ilia Topuria protocols for UFC White House There are so many, that the champion couldn't wait for the result to update his record. When announcing the duel on social media, the Spaniard shared an image of a poster with his face next to that of... Justin gaethje.

In the caption of the post, despite currently having 17 wins and no losses in his career, 'El Matador' wrote '18-0', accompanied by a red rose emoji, a symbol that has become a hallmark of his celebrations inside the octagon.