Gaethje Wants to Pay Topuria for Landing Body Shots on Him

Justin Gaethje has expressed an unusual form of respect for Ilia Topuria, saying he wants to send the lightweight contender money as a thank-you for landing body shots on him.

Gaethje explained that Topuria carries a rare mindset — one that genuinely craves absorbing that kind of punishment. The lightweight champion framed it as appreciation rather than grievance, a nod to the authentic toughness he sees in Topuria's approach to the sport.

Gaethje, nicknamed "The Highlight," holds a 28-5 record and currently reigns as lightweight champion. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Genesis Training Center and brings an aggressive, pressure-heavy style to the cage, averaging 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He rarely seeks takedowns, averaging just 0.33 per 15 minutes, making him almost exclusively a stand-and-trade fighter.

Topuria, known as "El Matador," is ranked second in the lightweight division and sits at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings with a 17-1 record. The 29-year-old representing Spain trains at Climent Club and operates as a compact orthodox striker at five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also adds a credible wrestling threat, averaging nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same span.

Why it matters

• Gaethje holds the lightweight title while Topuria sits at number two in the division, making any interaction between them carry genuine title-picture weight
• The comment underscores mutual respect between two of the division's most dangerous strikers
• Topuria's blend of striking volume and wrestling versatility contrasts sharply with Gaethje's pure stand-up aggression, setting up a compelling stylistic matchup if a fight were to materialize