Justin Gaethje sees his title-unification bout vs. Ilia Topuria as the perfect main event for the White House.
Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) claimed the interim lightweight title by battering Paddy Pimblett in a decision win at UFC 324. Lightweight champion Topuria, who took some personal time off to handle legal issues with his ex-wife, declared that he’s back and ready to go.
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With Gaethje now the second current American UFC champion, he sees no better option for the White House headliner in June than him vs. Topuria.
“Ilia Topuria on the White House – has to be,” Gaethje said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “No other option. Walking out of the Oval Office into the cage wearing the flag, I can’t think of anything – I’ve been speaking it into existence since I fought (Rafael) Fiziev last year. I thought it would be Topuria in January and I would defend my belt on the White House card in June. Things change up – can’t control everything.
“Ilia takes a step back because of 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. I think we’re going to main event it. I’m totally guessing, throwing sh*t against the wall right now, but I mean, what else? They had me above Amanda (Nunes) and Kayla (Harrison), and that’s the biggest fight in women’s MMA, and they had me above them.”
Conor McGregor’s name was thrown as the likely White House main event, which Gaethje didn’t necessarily disagree with – but he has an idea.
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“If it’s McGregor, then McGregor is going to fight me and we’ll be main event, anyways,” Gaethje said.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje says Ilia Topuria fight has to be White House headliner
