Gaethje embraces underdog role against Topuria ahead of UFC White House unification bout

Justin Gaethje will challenge undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in a title unification bout headlining the UFC White House event on June 14, with the 36-year-old contender insisting he has earned his place at the top of the division by repeatedly turning back younger rivals.

Gaethje has twice held interim gold at 155 pounds and added the BMF title with a head kick knockout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, yet undisputed status has eluded him. He believes the UFC matchmaking machine has, at various points, tried to accelerate his exit by placing him opposite hungry up-and-comers — and he takes satisfaction in having denied each of them.

“They’ve tried to get rid of me — they don’t want to get rid of me, obviously, but I have held off these young up-and-coming guys,” Gaethje told Grind City Media. “Paddy [Pimblett] was so hungry. [Rafael] Fiziev was so hungry. Arman [Tsarukyan’s] so hungry. There won’t be a time when I’m fighting guys that are older than me now, so these guys are all up-and-comers and every time I’ve got the opportunity I’ve held them off. So I’m here for a reason — I’m here because I’m one of the best in the world.”

His three most recent victories support that argument. He defeated Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in January to claim a second interim lightweight title, and prior to that he went 2-0 in his series with Fiziev. Gaethje credits the psychological edge that follows a defeat for much of his resilience, pointing specifically to Max Holloway’s knockout of him at UFC 300 as a motivating reference point he carries into every training session.

“Coming off of losses, I’m much more dangerous than I am coming off wins,” he said. “I have had two wins since then and it’s been awesome. I’m training with the thought of ‘I just got knocked out by Max Holloway.’”

Topuria, who moved up from featherweight to claim the lightweight belt, arrives undefeated and widely regarded as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport. Gaethje is not dismissing that threat, but he is confident in the preparation his coaching team has put together.

“I’m fighting a guy that is absolutely incredible, but I have a great coach and we’re going to have a great plan and I’m going to change his face just like I always do to all of my opponents,” he said.

For Gaethje, the June 14 fight represents the clearest path yet to undisputed status — and, on his own terms, proof that nobody else gets to decide when his career ends.