Ilia Topuria staged a mock funeral featuring pictures of his last four opponents, directing a pointed message at Justin Gaethje. Topuria referenced the White House and a white rose in his message, underscoring the symbolic theme of his recent run of finishes.
Ilia Topuria has turned up the heat on Justin Gaethje with a provocative social media display, staging a mock funeral that featured images of his four most recent opponents and directing the symbolic message squarely at the lightweight champion.
Topuria, who incorporated references to the White House and a white rose into his post, appears to be sending a clear signal to Gaethje about what awaits him should the two meet inside the octagon.
The 29-year-old Spaniard out of Climent Club carries a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings while holding the pound-for-pound top spot. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him a threat in all phases of a fight.
Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion, brings a 28-5-0 record and an entirely different offensive profile into any potential matchup. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Genesis Training Center and is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. At five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, the man known as The Highlight holds physical advantages in height and length over Topuria.
Why it matters
- Topuria is ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound, making Gaethje the natural next target
- A bout would pit the division's top finisher against its champion in a title unification of styles as much as belts
- Gaethje's striking volume and accuracy versus Topuria's well-rounded attack sets up a compelling contrast in approach
