Ilia Topuria is promising to knock Justin Gaethje out in the first round of their fight at UFC Freedom 250.
At the press conference at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, Topuria repeated what he has been saying for quite some time.
“He can prove me wrong. I feel that I am the best. If you think that I am not prove me wrong, if you can but I have my doubts. I am going to take his lights out in the first round. That is all that I know,” said Topuria.
Gaethje said he respects Topuria’s 17-0-0 record and that he is number two in the pound-for-pound top fighters list but that won’t be enough to beat him.
“I have so much experience in the cage that I am going to use that experience to be great. All I have to do is go in there and be great….I am going to go in there and put it on the line. That’s all I can do,” he said.
Topuria disputed that ranking. He claimed to be number one and will illustrate that when he knocks Gaethje out in the first round as he says he will.
Answering a question about Alex Pereira being one of the greatest of all time, Topuria fired back at Josh Hokit. Throughout the entire press conference Hokit keep chiming in with his comments on every fight in a bumbling voice.
“Pereira chews up Topuria’s food and bird feeds it in his mouth,” said Hokit.
“Someone, please shut this guy up. Shut up!” said an angry Topuria.
“Topuria is probably my favourite fighter. He just knock everyone out,” stammered Hokit saying his “Incredible Hulk” personality is ruining his life and nobody likes him.
Topuria was asked again about his vow to knock Gaethje out.
“Justin knows in his heart that I am going to knock him out in the first round,” he said.
“Not true. You may know it but that is not how it works,” said Gaethje.
Hokit interrupted again.
“The Incredible Hulk thinks America is going for Gaethje,” began Hokit.
“Turn his microphone off!” shouted Topuria.
“Gaethje is going to pressure and make it dirty. That is what The Incredible Hulk thinks and that is why he is going for Gaethje. Topuria, I am a big fan that you knock everyone out but I think Gaethje is hungry, he is ready,” Hokit said pointing out that Topuria is not American.
Dana White commented on the event being outside and at the mercy of the elements.
“Listen, the show goes on Sunday no matter what happens. We’re going! I don’t care if it rains, snows, whatever happens we have a fight on Sunday. I am sick and tired of hearing about the weather now and all the other bulls–t surrounding this event. We are fighting on Sunday night on the White House lawn no matter what!” he said.
The lineup for UFC Freedom 250 card is as follows:
Featherweight: Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
Heavyweight: Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis
Bantamweight: Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane
UFC Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuira vs. Justin Gaethje
The event is available on Paramount+.
