Topuria Must Finish Gaethje Clean to Elevate His Star Power, Analysis Shows

Ilia Topuria faces a uniquely demanding challenge against Justin Gaethje: no opponent has beaten Gaethje without taking damage or dropping a round, including Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje has knocked down opponents 13 times across his 15 UFC fights and has hurt or finished virtually every striker he has faced, from Dustin Poirier to Max Holloway and Michael Chandler. Only a dominant, damage-free finish would set Topuria apart from every previous Gaethje opponent and push him to a new level of stardom.