Topuria previews UFC Freedom 250 with AS: “The biggest event in sports history”
As he prepares for his lightweight title bout with Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Ilia Topuria spoke to AS.
Ilia Topuria has a massive, historic challenge ahead: headlining UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14 - coinciding with Donald Trump’s birthday. The Spanish-Georgian star will defend his second belt, the lightweight title, against interim champion Justin Gaethje, who has already fought twice for the undisputed crown. The South Lawn of the presidential residence is already being transformed, set to host an octagon, lights, and giant screens so the president and 5,000 VIP guests can witness a truly one-of-a-kind card.
Undefeated with 17 wins, Topuria will be the main attraction, the man everyone is chasing. Alongside his brother Aleksandre, also a UFC fighter with two wins in the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, Topuria is also launching a documentary series on HBO Max titled The Topurias. It traces their journey in the UFC - from Ilia’s fight with Max Holloway to the White House event announcement, as well as Aleksandre’s two bouts.
A few months ago, you moved to Miami to finish your training camp. How has preparation in the United States been?
Very good - everything’s been perfect. Miami was already pretty familiar to us because we had done several camps there before. Now we’re seeing it from a different perspective, with the mindset that we live here.
You’ll headline what’s being billed as the biggest event in UFC history: UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. How does that feel, and what are your expectations?
I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to headline what will probably be not just the biggest event in UFC history, but in sports overall. It’s going to go down in history - that’s what I believe, and what people are saying. I honestly don’t even know what to expect or how it’s going to look, how they’ll set up the stage… Before fight week, they’re going to give us a tour inside the White House to explain how everything will work - where we’ll enter, where we’ll exit. I’m really excited to experience the whole thing. It’s something unique - walking around the White House while they’re giving you instructions is actually kind of funny [laughs].
Your opponent will be Justin Gaethje, the interim lightweight champion, who has already fought twice for the title (two submission losses, to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Charles Oliveira in 2022). What do you think of him? What strengths stand out?
I have the utmost respect for him. He’s a very good fighter with a strong résumé. He’s fought a lot of big names and has been interim champion twice - the only fighter in history to do that. He’s been in some huge fights, but he’s never faced someone like me. He’s using the same script as all my opponents: that he’s going to teach me a lesson in humility, put me in my place, that I’m overly arrogant… But you know how that ends. As for his strengths: he’s dangerous. His hands are chaotic; you never know where the shots are coming from. In that chaos, we’re going to bring calm - and anesthesia.
You’ll be defending your lightweight title the day before Spain kicks off its World Cup campaign in the United States. What’s your prediction for both contests?
My prediction is victory: that’s what we’ve prepared for. Without a doubt, I’m going to come out on top, and so is Spain. We have all the tools to win. The beauty of sports, though, is that you never know what’s going to happen. That’s why people watch games and fights. What’s guaranteed is that we’re not leaving anything to chance or luck. We work for every opportunity we get. After that, it comes down to God’s will, the destiny set for us - and that’s always good, always perfect.
Your series The Topurias premieres on June 5. What was it like filming during such important moments in your life? It begins with your featherweight title defense against Holloway and brings us up to today.
Filming a series isn’t easy. Having cameras and sound around you all the time, so many people… Then you watch the footage and see things about yourself that surprise you. There are moments that bring nostalgia - even sadness - because I see myself extremely drained, in a really bad state. It’s hard to watch, but it’s part of my life. It’s also something I wanted to share with people, because they see you on a pedestal and everyone wants to be there - but no one truly knows what you have to go through to reach that point. The series perfectly reflects that journey, the moments you have to endure. It also shows my life and my family, because we share a lot of intimate moments.
The weight-cut footage is brutal, and that can be shocking for viewers, especially those who don’t know the sport from the inside. You can see how much you suffer.
Everyone who has seen the series has been surprised by the weight-cutting part. They have no idea how difficult it is.
Your son Hugo became one of the breakout stars of the series. His appearances and interviews are among the best parts. What was it like filming with him?
There’s a funny story [laughs]. He was doing an interview for one of the episodes, and at one point they gave him a short break. Then they told him he had to keep going, and he looked at them and said, “But you’re giving my dad more rest.” He’s the best: the number one in the show. I gladly give him that spot. I’m proud. I always want my son to be better than me - that’s my wish.
Another major presence is your brother Aleksandre. What role does he play in both your professional and personal life? You always seem very close.
My brother plays an extremely important role in both my personal and professional life. At the end of the day, he’s my brother. Being able to share this journey and this profession with him, having lived so many experiences together - it fills me with joy, and it’s something I’m very proud of. When we talk about it, we’re both proud of everything we’ve been through. He’s fundamental.
Have you already watched the series together? What did you think?
We watched it separately. I can’t be completely objective because I see myself in it - especially in moments where there are things I don’t like. Some people don’t even like hearing their own voice in interviews, let alone sharing their life so closely. Family moments, professional moments… At first I was a bit taken aback. Moments of tension, desperation, fatigue, joy, happiness… You end up shedding a few tears. That’s my life: that’s everything I’ve had to go through.
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