Gaethje calls UFC lightweight title 'absolutely insane' after stopping Topuria as heavy underdog

Justin Gaethje is the undisputed UFC lightweight champion after battering Ilia Topuria at UFC White House until Topuria’s corner threw in the towel, completing a third and finally successful tilt at undisputed gold for the 37-year-old American.

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Gaethje reflected on the magnitude of a win that came against the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, who entered the bout as a massive favourite. “You could not write a movie to match what we did,” Gaethje said. “The show that we put on and the quality of the theatrics was absolutely insane.”

The champion described the moment the reality of his achievement sank in. “Yesterday, my dad asked me, ‘How’s it feel waking up for the first time being champion?’ I haven’t even thought about it. I sat there and thought about it, and it’s absolutely insane.”

Gaethje had publicly acknowledged before the fight that this was his final opportunity to win undisputed gold, and he broke down precisely how he executed what he called a perfect performance. “One word describes it all, and it’s ‘timing,’” he said. “Creating angles, but sending direct lines of energy in straight lines through their body and through their face. When you see my face, and it’s not messed up — if you watch frame by frame, I am constantly dissipating the energy that he’s trying to send in straight lines, and they’re all coming off and glancing off of my body.”

He credited his ability to stay composed under pressure as central to the outcome. “When I can lock in and be cerebral, and I’m in danger, my body does crazy things. I’m able to be so technical and intuitive and cerebral with my actions. I was able to reset his feet every one to two seconds. I was very diligent about it, and I fought a perfect fight. And he was completely caught off guard.”

Gaethje also indicated that a return to the octagon is unlikely before the end of 2025, suggesting the new champion intends to take time to absorb his achievement before plotting his next move.