Justin Gaethje manifested his path back to becoming a UFC champion, and now he’s convinced that his next step is unifying titles with Ilia Topuria at perhaps the biggest card in the history of the promotion.
Fresh off his dominant win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, where he became a two-time interim lightweight champion, Gaethje made it clear that he wanted to return at the UFC White House card, which is scheduled to take place on June 14. While he hasn’t received any offer yet, Gaethje likely got some good news on Thursday with Topuria declaring that he’s “back,” which would clear the way for those two to meet in the near future.
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“Ilia Topuria on the White House [card]. It has to be. No other option,” Gaethje said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Walking out of the Oval Office, into the cage, wearing the flag. I’ve been speaking [it] into existence since I fought [Rafael] Fiziev last year. I thought it would be Topuria in January, and then I would fight and defend my belt on the White House card in June.
“Things change up, can’t control everything. Ilia takes a step back, has some personal issues. I still get to fight for an interim championship, which makes me a champion on paper, which gives me Ilia Topuria on the White House in June.”
As far as placement on the card, Gaethje doesn’t see any other option than facing Topuria in the main event, as he represents America on the biggest stage in the sport.
Add to that, Gaethje knows his value to the UFC after the promotion put an interim title fight at the top of the first-ever card on Paramount+ over an undisputed championship matchup between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
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“I think we’re going to main event it,” Gaethje said with confidence. “I think we’ll be the main event. I’m totally guessing, throwing shit against the wall right now, but what else?
“They had me specifically above Amanda [Nunes] and Kayla [Harrison], and that’s the biggest fight in women’s MMA, and they had me above them. I can’t imagine [not headlining it].”
Of course, Gaethje was asked about potentially serving as the co-main event if former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor actually makes his comeback after five years out of action.
McGregor has repeatedly stated that he plans on fighting at the UFC White House card, and he’s been back in training full-time just awaiting word from the UFC.
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If the Irish superstar really is coming back, Gaethje says he’s happy to accept that challenge as well because no matter what, he wants to be part of the main event.
“If it’s McGregor, then McGregor’s going to fight me, and we’ll be main event anyways,” Gaethje said. “If Ilia didn’t come back, they’d strip him, I’d become the undisputed [champion], and then McGregor gets to fight whoever he wants. I guess that would be an option.”
