The UFC lightweight division will crown an undisputed champion at the White House this weekend.
Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will put their 155lb titles on the line at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.
Who will emerge victorious? Let’s hear what the Bloody Elbow staff writers think about the biggest fight of the year.
Choose which man will leave the White House as the undisputed UFC lightweight champion on June 14!
Ilia Topuria backed big by the Bloody Elbow staff
Jordan Ellis: “I see this fight a little bit differently than most. Like many, I’m backing Ilia Topuria to win early, but I actually think he’ll get it done on the floor. Justin Gaethje has a puncher’s chance on the feet, but is clueless off his back. I expect the 17-0 Spaniard to show off his submission skills on the South Lawn.
PREDICTION: ILIA TOPURIA BY SUBMISSION
Donagh Corby: For all the criticism of last month’s MVP MMA show and its matchmaking, people seem to be completely fine with UFC White House being headlined by a farcical mismatch. Aside from a puncher’s chance, I don’t see any way Justin Gaethje survives against Ilia Topuria. I believe Topuria will KO Gaethje in one round.
PREDICTION: ILIA TOPURIA BY KNOCKOUT
How much would you pay to attend the UFC White House event? 💰
‘Influential people’ have been offered a $1.5 million ticket package. 🤯
Jamie Theodosi: “I find it extremely hard to find any way in the world in which Gaethje beats Topuria. With the fight being outdoors, Gaethje has to hope for a miracle or something outside of his control helping him; otherwise, he likely gets flatlined within 1 or 2 rounds.”
PREDICTION: ILIA TOPURIA BY KNOCKOUT
Harvey Leonard: “At this point, it is not outlandish to call Topuria one of the best to ever do it inside the Octagon. Gaethje is far from being that caliber, and he should have nothing but a puncher’s chance in this one — albeit a higher puncher’s chance than most would have. It’s more than likely that Gaethje will meet the same fate as Oliveira, Volkanovski, and Holloway.”
PREDICTION: ILIA TOPURIA BY KNOCKOUT
Kyle Dimond: “I think I’m giving Gaethje a better chance than most, but even then, I find it really hard to see how someone with his style deals with the speed and power of Topuria. He takes damage, and I can’t see that holding up over time.”
PREDICTION: ILIA TOPURIA BY KNOCKOUT
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