In tense showdown before UFC Freedom 250,Ilia Topuria squared off with Justin Gaethje at Lincoln Memorial,Washington, D.C., ratcheting up tensions days before their bout . Topuria,unbeaten lightweight champ, heads back to octagon after almost year away, post-divorce.
At Friday's news conference, Topuria shoved Gaethje,prompting UFC president Dana White to step in. Gaethje,known for his brawling style,laughed it off,quipping,“Look where we’re at,look at this beautiful view and you want to act like an animal?”
Topuria,29,boldly claimed he'd knock Gaethje out in round one. “I know I’m best in world,” he said. “In two days we’re going to share the same place. I know I’m the best,just prove me wrong if you can.” Gaethje,37,brushed off Topuria's swagger,highlighting his own cage experience. “I have so much experience that I am going to use that experience to be great,” he said. “All I have to do is go in there and be great.”
The event set for Sunday aligns with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday as part of U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations . UFC Freedom 250 will unfold in a specially built octagonal cage within 28-meter high structure on White House’s South Lawn.
Topuria returns after a 16-month stretch defeating fighters like Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira, all by knockout. Now he's up against Gaethje,whose fearless style promises a thrilling fight.
Co-main event has Alex Pereira moving to heavyweight,aiming to make history as first to win titles in three UFC divisions. He'll face Ciryl Gane for interim title. Also,fan favorite Shawn O’Malley takes on 38-year-old Canadian Aiemann Zahabi.
Earlier Friday, a federal judge tossed a legal challenge to block the event. US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled against two locals who claimed Trump admin overstepped by staging UFC Freedom 250 without Congress okay. Plaintiffs wanted court order to stop it,but Mehta said they weren’t “directly affected” and waited too long to sue.
White House called lawsuit “untimely and frivolous.” Plaintiffs expressed disappointment but stood firm,saying it was about corruption, not sports. “A handful of people and companies stand to profit from our public monuments,” they said.
UFC’s parent company,TKO Group Holdings,is publicly traded and also runs WWE. Linda McMahon, former WWE exec, serves as Trump’s education secretary .
