Ilia Topuria declares that he’s too good for Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC Freedom 250

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria believes he’s too good for rival Justin Gaethje as UFC Freedom 250 approaches.

This weekend, Ilia Topuria will defend his UFC lightweight championship against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250. It serves as one of the biggest fights of his career thus far, as he attempts to carry on the incredible legacy he’s building for himself.

RELATED: Justin Gaethje beloved by former UFC champion but still predicted to lose against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250

Gaethje, meanwhile, is doing everything he can to gain an edge over Topuria, which has included some intense back and forth debates over social media in recent weeks.

In a recent interview, though, Topuria made it clear that he is feeling pretty confident in his abilities.

Topuria analyzes Gaethje’s chances

“If he’s going to do what he’s been saying, that he’s going to try to move forward and all that, that’s all I need,” Topuria told MMA Junkie. “That’s all I need. Just try to move forward and I’m going to have half the job already done. … If he’s going to try to move forward, I’m going to knock him out like in the first minute or the second minute. He moves forward in a lot of fights and even, you know, when he has lost like Charles is his quickest loss.

“Charles, he did the same. He tried to move forward. Watch the fight, what he did. He was trying to move forward all the time. His game plan was the same as Justin is saying. But what happened? How long it took me to knock him out? What Charles has and Justin doesn’t is that he’s very dangerous on the ground.

“But with Justin, I’m not going to have that. I don’t have any pressure because even if he’s able to take me down, which I see it impossible, what’s he going to do on the ground? Hold me for how long? What’s he going to do? That’s why I see this fight short. I don’t think – I know for a fact that if he’s going to try to move forward, I’m going to knock him out in two minutes. I’m too good for him.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

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