MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz made a big claim about his client Justin Gaethje heading into UFC Freedom 250. Ilia Topuria soon fired back. <\/p>\n
Ilia Topuria has seemingly jibed at Ali Abdelaziz, who’s the founder of Dominance MMA management and the longtime manager of Justin Gaethje. Currently, UFC<\/a> lightweight champion Topuria is booked to face interim UFC lightweight champion Gaethje in a title unification match.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Topuria-Gaethje showdown will headline UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on June 14, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ali Abdelaziz makes bold claim about Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria laughs it off<\/p>\n With the all-important lightweight championship clash fast-approaching, many fans and experts in the MMA community have been weighing in with their predictions.<\/p>\n On one hand, there’s the belief that the 29-year-old Ilia Topuria would utilize his youth, skills, and confidence from his unbeaten record to run through the 37-year-old Justin Gaethje.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the other hand, some argue that Gaethje’s experience and aggressive fighting style could make him the first to beat the Georgian-Spaniard UFC champion in the sport of mixed martial arts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Well, taking to X, MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz put forth the following post in support of Gaethje a few hours ago:\u00a0<\/p>\n “Justin Gaethje is going to be @Justin_Gaethje and he will shock the world. Just stay tuned.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Topuria appeared to laugh off Abdelaziz’s big claim about his American opponent. The reigning lightweight champ posted a ‘rolling on the floor laughing’ emoji.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Justin Gaethje is going to be @Justin_Gaethje<\/a> and he will shock the world. Just stay tuned.<\/p>\n \u2014 Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n \u2014 Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) May 29, 2026<\/a> Incidentally, another longtime client of Ali Abdelaziz happens to be Islam Makhachev, an ex-UFC lightweight champion and the reigning UFC welterweight champion. Topuria, who’s an ex-UFC featherweight champ and current UFC lightweight champ, has been feuding with Makhachev over the past few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Topuria and Makhachev have accused one another of ducking their much-discussed superfight. As of this time, the consensus is that Makhachev could defend his UFC welterweight belt against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330<\/a> on August 15, 2026. One ought to note that this matchup hasn’t been officially announced by the UFC yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n For his part, Topuria recently clarified that he doesn’t have anything personal against Makhachev and is merely open to fighting him because they both hold the distinction of having won UFC gold in two separate weight classes. “El Matador” even suggested that he now feels Makhachev isn’t ducking him<\/a> and that it’s the UFC that’s uninterested in booking their superfight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nIlia Topuria has also been feuding with another client of Ali Abdelaziz<\/p>\n