Justin Gaethje plots change for Ilia Topuria fight as he sends ‘missiles’ warning ahead of UFC White House

Jun 3, 2026 - 15:15

Justin Gaethje is entering his UFC White House main event against Ilia Topuria all guns blazing.

‘The Highlight’ has the chance to unify the lightweight division against undefeated, dominant champion Topuria on June 14, having won the interim crown against Paddy Pimblett last time out.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Joe Rogan interviews Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett of England following the UFC lightweight interim championship bout during the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) — Gaethje cemented his status as the next in line to Topuria’s throne by putting on a trademark performance against Pimblett in January

Gaethje went to war with Pimblett, dropping ‘The Baddy’ twice en route to a unanimous decision victory in their Las Vegas headliner.

The American has traded leather with a who’s who of the greatest lightweights in his 15-year career, and win or lose, has explained how he’s 100 per cent prepared to face one of his toughest tests yet.

Gaethje: I’m going to fight the perfect fight

“You can’t watch [Topuria] put [Alexander] Volkanovski, [Max] Holloway and [Charles] Oliveira to sleep back-to-back-to-back and not think something special is happening,” Gaethje told UFC on Paramount+.

“All those guys were compromised by position and he’s very good at putting you into bad positions.

“So obviously, that is what I’m focused on right now and staying in a good position, being reactive.

“Never retracting but always reacting. I’m going to fight the perfect fight and I’m going to throw missiles.”

Topuria has won all nine of his UFC fights and is 17-0 across his career, banking six bonuses while killing off legend by legend en route to the sport’s summit.

Gaethje, however, knows what he’s in for and highlighted how his team and coach Trevor Wittman are ready to match what Topuria brings.

He continued: “I really trust my coach to instil a game plan, non-verbally, through action, through constant work.

“You’ve seen me fight so many times. You’ve seen me fight ten different fights. I can be ten different fighters.

Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje pose on the South Lawn in front of the White House on May 06, 2026 in Washington, DC — The UFC lightweight title is on the line when Gaethje fights Topuria in the main event of the White House card

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Justin Gaethje of the United States punches Paddy Pimblett of England during their interim lightweight title bout in UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) — Despite being a big underdog, ‘The HIghlight’ will no doubt give everything he has to become the first man to defeat Topuria

“And this sport is about matchups, so obviously, I’m not going to fight the same fight that I fought against [Rafael] Fiziev against Paddy Pimblett, but I do possess the skills to fight ten different fights.

“This is a very specific, very particular fight. More boxing-heavy, very different than my other two championship fights, where I was fighting grappler-heavy fighters.

“My mistake in those fights was I made adjustments based on the opponent I was fighting.

“I’m going to be my best and perfect self, and if he can beat me on that night, then props to him.”

Topuria vs Gaethje headlines UFC White House, which is billed as UFC Freedom 250 to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The fights take place on US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, with Alex Pereira‘s interim heavyweight clash against Ciryl Gane acting as the chief support act.