Topuria mocks Gaethje's 'my father is my dad' comment

Ilia Topuria took a moment to publicly ridicule Justin Gaethje on June 10, laughing off recent comments made by the lightweight champion and dismissing him as someone not worth taking seriously. Topuria told a journalist that there is no point in getting personal with someone he considers a fool, a remark directed squarely at a widely circulated clip in which Gaethje said "my father is my dad."

Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1 record and is currently ranked second in the lightweight division while holding the number-one spot on the pound-for-pound rankings. The Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and has built his reputation on sharp, high-volume offense, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also adds a consistent ground threat, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.

Gaethje, 37, holds the lightweight title with a record of 28-5. The American fighter out of Genesis Training Center is a five-foot-eleven orthodox striker with a 70-inch reach and represents one of the most aggressive pressure fighters in the division, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. His game is built almost entirely on forward movement and heavy output, as reflected by near-zero submission attempts and just 0.33 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Topuria is ranked second in the division, making Gaethje a natural next target for a title shot
• The public back-and-forth raises the temperature between two fighters who could plausibly meet in a future lightweight title fight
• Their styles set up a striking-heavy collision between a high-accuracy volume puncher and one of the division's most relentless pressure fighters