Justin Gaethje is treating the White House setting like noise he cannot use once the cage door closes.
In a TMZ Sports interview with Babcock before UFC Freedom 250, Gaethje spoke about fighting Ilia Topuria on June 14 at the White House, representing the United States on a card tied to America’s 250th anniversary, and walking into the matchup as a heavy underdog. Gaethje is 27-5 overall in MMA and 10-5 in the UFC, with 20 knockout wins. He is also the current and two-time interim UFC lightweight champion, the first fighter in UFC history to win an interim title twice.
Gaethje said the location will matter more after the fight than during preparation.
“Same thing,” Gaethje said. “Just a cage. Cage against another guy. After the fact I’ll think about all that, but none of that can help me right now when it comes to where it’s at or who’s going to be watching. I’m really proud that a bunch of our military is going to be there. I can’t wait to share this moment with the guys that sacrificed so much for us to have these opportunities.”
Watch the full interview below:
Gaethje Says Pressure Is Exactly Where He Wants To Be
Gaethje was asked if fighting a non-American opponent at the White House brings extra pressure. He said he expects to make the country proud because of how he competes.
“I can only try my hardest and give my best effort,” Gaethje said. “I think no matter what happens that night, win or lose, I’m going to make my country proud. I always have with my performances and I love showing off.”
Gaethje then leaned into the underdog role. Topuria enters as the unbeaten UFC lightweight champion at 17-0, and Gaethje made it clear he is not bothered by being counted out.
“My middle name always on the golf course, I always tell people my middle name is pressure,” Gaethje said. “And I love pressure. I love being the underdog. I love being counted out. And I love the fact that my opponent thinks he’s some kind of god or king, because I get to bring him down and let him know that he’s just a human like all of us.”
Gaethje compared Topuria’s confidence to Conor McGregor’s old approach, while still giving Topuria credit for what he has already done.
“This is how he approaches many fights,” Gaethje said. “He’s been successful every time along the road. So again, it’s similar to McGregor, how McGregor approached it, and that you’re going to make yourself this unbeatable, infallible person and then when you lose, where do you go from there? So I can’t wait to teach him that lesson.”
Gaethje added that Topuria’s unbeaten run is real, but not untouchable.
“I’ve been there before,” Gaethje said. “I was 17 and 0 at one point when I got to the UFC. He’s much more accomplished at 17 and 0 than I was. There’s no doubt this kid is special.”
Gaethje also tied the stakes to his recent losses. He was knocked out by Max Holloway in their BMF title fight and previously submitted by Charles Oliveira in a lightweight title bout. A win over Topuria would give him the undisputed UFC lightweight title and move him past both setbacks.
“The Max Holloway fight is a blessing in disguise because it’s going to make this that much more special,” Gaethje said. “With this win I get to take away the Max Holloway fight and the Charles Oliveira fight. So what an opportunity.”
Asked about Topuria’s vulnerabilities, Gaethje kept it technical.
“I believe in my ability,” Gaethje said. “I believe in the ability to create angles, control distance and be accurate, and not make mistakes. I think I’ve been through and experienced these things so many times that if I’m not perfect on this night, then I should have never been there.”
Gaethje said the betting line makes sense because Topuria knocked out Holloway and Oliveira, while Holloway and Oliveira both finished him. He still views a 25-minute title fight as a chance to control what happens next.
“This one specifically I understand,” Gaethje said. “He knocked out Max Holloway, Max Holloway knocked me out. He knocked out Charles Oliveira, Charles Oliveira finished me. And so it makes perfect sense, but it’s 25 minutes in time. I get to control my destiny.”
Gaethje then described the underdog angle in patriotic terms.
“This is Miracle on Ice type of energy that I’m trying to drive into this country,” Gaethje said. “I have an opportunity to do something special, and I could not ask for anything better. I think 250 years ago, I think we were definitely bigger underdogs, and look where we are now.”
Gaethje has held interim UFC gold before, but he said undisputed status would stand alone.
“Oh, no, this is different,” Gaethje said. “I’ve never been undisputed champion. Obviously, that was the goal from the beginning. This will eclipse every other accomplishment that I’ve ever achieved.”
Gaethje closed by explaining why representing the country matters to him.
“I’m very proud to represent this country,” Gaethje said. “I’m very proud to represent the people where I come from. Hard-working people that control their destiny, that never play the victim, and can control everything around them. That’s what I’ve done this whole time. That’s what my parents have taught me to be, and how to approach this life. I’ve never considered myself a victim, no matter how many times I’ve been the underdog, or I’ve lost in big situations.”
