Topuria faces unique challenge against Gaethje: no fighter has ever gone through him clean

Justin Gaethje has knocked down opponents 13 times across 15 UFC bouts, with every fighter except Charles Oliveira conceding him at least one round. His résumé includes knockouts over Tony Ferguson, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone, and Michael Chandler, along with victories where he badly damaged Dustin Poirier, Eddie Alvarez, and Rafael Fiziev. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov admitted Gaethje hit him harder than anyone, and still dropped a round on the scorecards. Ilia Topuria, as a striker, must accomplish what no fighter before him has managed — winning cleanly, without dropping a round or absorbing significant damage.