Ilia Topuria says Justin Gaethje crossed a personal line by bringing up his divorce and has vowed to make him pay in front of his family at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.
Gaethje fired back at Topuria’s preemptive Instagram handle change to “18-0” by calling him “an annoying little bastard” and making references to his recent divorce. Topuria responded in the first UFC Freedom 250 Embedded episode.
Take this, Justin [shoots double birds]. Actually, I thought he was a great guy. But since he crossed the personal line, he’s not going to have my respect; he’s not going to have my team’s respect. All I’m going to need is 2 minutes in the octagon with you, and I’m going to put you to sleep in front of your whole family, your country, in front of everyone.
Topuria also clarified how the personal escalation began, pointing to comments from Gaethje’s father.
You should’ve kept your father out of this. He was the one calling me a short guy and saying you’d smash me, all while holding a beer in his hand. Then you started talking about my divorce and telling the world you wouldn’t want to be my roommate. Idiot. First, we’re fighting, not dating. Second, I’m not looking for a roommate. When I put you to sleep and you’re lying there next to the rose, I’ll look at your father and ask him one simple question: Who’s the short one now? I’m gonna break you Justin.
Gaethje responded on X, denying he spoke about Topuria’s ex-wife directly while calling him an “insufferable little b*tch boy.”
Topuria enters as nearly a 7-to-1 favorite. The lightweight title unification fight headlines UFC Freedom 250 on Paramount+.