Gaethje vows to snatch Topuria's undefeated record at UFC White House

Justin Gaethje delivered a defiant promise at the UFC White House ceremonial weigh-ins on Saturday, vowing to end Ilia Topuria’s undefeated record when the two meet in Sunday’s lightweight title main event. Gaethje enters the fight as a heavy underdog, yet showed no sign of wavering in his belief that he can pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history.

“I was absolutely made for this shit right here,” Gaethje shouted to the crowd. “I am blessed to be in this position that I am and I will take his ‘O’ from him tomorrow night. You watch.”

The final faceoff was notably more controlled than the pre-fight press conference on Friday, where Topuria surprised UFC CEO Dana White with a shove at the end of the event. This time White kept the fighters apart, allowing only a tense stare-down before they went their separate ways.

Topuria, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, was measured in his response but no less confident. The Georgian-Spanish fighter framed Sunday’s fight in personal terms, invoking his journey to the United States.

“Since I was a kid I always heard this little call ‘the American dream,’” Topuria said. “I never really understood the meaning of that word. But tomorrow night, we are going to live the American dream. I’m going to get another victory. 18-0. I’m going to get that victory with fashion.”

In the co-main event, Alex Pereira received the loudest reception of the night as he faced off with Ciryl Gane ahead of their interim heavyweight title bout. Pereira is chasing history, looking to become the first fighter in UFC history to win gold in three separate divisions, having already held the middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

The most volatile faceoff of the evening came from the heavyweight undercard, where Josh Hokit and Derrick Lewis had to be separated by security after getting too close. Lewis was a late addition to the card after being personally requested by President Donald Trump, with UFC CEO Dana White booking the matchup as the seventh and final fight of the night. Hokit enters on the back of a potential Fight of the Year performance against Curtis Blaydes and remains undefeated.