Justin Gaethje and trainer Trevor Wittman addressed online speculation that Gaethje had foreign objects in his gloves during his fight with Ilia Topuria. Gaethje took the claims in stride, calling the accusations of being juiced or having bricks in his gloves a compliment.
Justin Gaethje and his longtime trainer Trevor Wittman have publicly dismissed a wave of online conspiracy theories suggesting the lightweight champion had foreign objects concealed in his gloves during his bout against Ilia Topuria.
The speculation surfaced on social media in the aftermath of the fight, with some users alleging Gaethje had been "juiced" or had bricks hidden in his gloves. Rather than take offense, the 37-year-old champion treated the accusations as a backhanded tribute, saying he considered the claims a compliment. Wittman echoed that sentiment, and the pair appeared to brush off the theories without difficulty.
Gaethje, a native of the United States fighting out of Genesis Training Center, holds the lightweight title and carries a record of 28-5-0. Known as "The Highlight," he lands an impressive 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, numbers that go some way toward explaining why opponents might search for alternative explanations after absorbing his power.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, came into the contest at 17-1-0. The 29-year-old Spaniard, nicknamed "El Matador," is a dangerous all-around fighter who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a constant threat of nearly 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes as well.
Why it matters
- Gaethje retains the lightweight title, keeping him at the center of a stacked 155-pound division
- Topuria, now ranked second at lightweight and sitting atop the pound-for-pound list at 17-1, remains a significant threat for a rematch
- The social-media noise does nothing to alter the official result, but the public response from Gaethje and Wittman signals neither man is rattled by the chatter
