Gaethje fires back at 'annoying little bastard' Topuria ahead of UFC White House lightweight title fight

Justin Gaethje has gone on the offensive against Ilia Topuria in the build-up to their undisputed lightweight title fight at UFC White House on June 14, calling the champion “an annoying little bastard” and invoking his recent divorce in a pointed jab.

Topuria had been setting the tone for the pre-fight needle, most recently releasing a video of himself placing a white rose at the base of a Gaethje mural — positioned among murals of previous opponents he has defeated. Gaethje was unmoved.

“All that guy is, is a gimmick,” Gaethje told Fox Sports. “He calls himself the king. He thinks he’s a God. What an annoying little bastard. I couldn’t imagine being in a room with him for 30 minutes listening to him talk about himself.”

Gaethje then took aim at Topuria’s personal life, referencing the champion’s recent divorce. “I would leave him,” he said. “That’s all I’m saying. I would leave him. No way I would put up with his shit.”

Since claiming his first UFC title, Topuria has leaned fully into a self-aggrandising persona, treating the Gaethje fight as little more than a formality. He has already updated his social media biography to read “18-0” — a record he does not yet hold — ahead of the White House card.

Gaethje, who earned the interim lightweight title earlier this year by defeating Paddy Pimblett, drew a direct comparison between the two opponents’ attitudes. “Yeah, look, I was young and dumb once, too,” he said. “And up until this point, it’s served him well. People see the way he talks, and they believe it. Because he believes it. Which is amazing, really. But it was similar with Paddy Pimblett. He was so full of himself. And it can be so detrimental to approach life that way. Thinking you’re better than everybody else.”

UFC White House on June 14 also features an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.