Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira believes Ilia Topuria holds the advantage in the upcoming UFC main event at the White House against Justin Gaethje. Oliveira, who has shared the octagon with both fighters, suggests Topuria’s superior technique will triumph over Gaethje’s aggressive, brawling approach.
In an exclusive interview, Oliveira stated, “Everyone keeps asking me about it. They’re two guys who hit hard, two guys who commit themselves, two great fighters. But in my view, Topuria has a much better chance of winning. He’s a much more technical fighter than Gaethje. Gaethje is a brawler, he’s there for a tear-up. Topuria is a guy who hunts the knockout, he chases the knockout. So I believe he wins.”
This highly anticipated bout is set to headline a significant UFC event at the White House on June 14th in Washington, D.C., as part of the America 250 celebration. The fight will serve as a title unification match, with Topuria, the undisputed lightweight champion, facing interim champion Gaethje.
Oliveira’s perspective carries weight due to his recent firsthand experiences. He defeated Gaethje via first-round submission at UFC 274 in May 2022. Subsequently, in their 2025 lightweight title fight at UFC 317, Topuria knocked out Oliveira in the first round to claim the championship.
Despite acknowledging the danger posed by both fighters, Oliveira, drawing from his own encounters, anticipates that Topuria’s refined striking and knockout-seeking strategy will be the deciding factor in this high-stakes confrontation.
