Justin Gaethje’s UFC White House underdog status is the result of ‘trendy’ Ilia Topuria support says teammate

Justin Gaethje’s position as a heavy underdog against Ilia Topuria is little more than disrespect, according to his teammate Archie Colgan.

The interim lightweight champion is being given next to no chance by many experts and fans on June 14, despite a history of massive victories. Topuria has been on a streak of impressive victories, including knockout wins over Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira who both stopped Gaethje.

And ahead of his own lightweight title fight in PFL against Usman Nurmagomedov, Colgan has opened up about the pair’s plans to return to Colorado after their respective title fights in Washington and New York with all the belts at 155lb.

• COMICAL: Ilia Topuria gets a laugh out of brave UFC White House prediction

Archie Colgan defends Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC White House

Even after years of scoring major victories over the likes of Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier and most recently Paddy Pimblett, there is still a belief that Justin Gaethje will be stopped by Ilia Topuria at UFC White House.

But speaking exclusively with Bloody Elbow, his teammate Archie Colgan made the case for why it is unwise to rule out the American, saying: “I’ve never seen this level of – I don’t know if you want to call it disrespect or just in general ‘writing off.

“Maybe there’s just so much praise towards Ilia but I have never seen people write off somebody like him. If it was just some random guy who just entered top 10 and they gave him a title shot then it would be different and I would understand.

“But this is a guy that has been proven, he won multiple world titles in the World Series of Fighting, he’s been the interim champion in UFC twice when I don’t think anyone has ever been interim UFC champion two times. He was also the BMF champion.

“He has competed with all of the best so to see him get written off? I think it’s a little bit of just what’s trendy, everyone is saying it so people just tag along but it will make it all the more sweeter when he silences the doubter.”