Ilia Topuria warns Justin Gaethje 'crossed a line' with UFC White House ex-wife talk; Gaethje issues profane response
· Yahoo Sports
In case Ilia Topuria needed any more motivation ahead of this weekend's UFC White House event, Justin Gaethje is doing his damndest to comply.
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Topuria is set to make the first defense of his UFC lightweight title Sunday in a unification match against interim champion Gaethje on the South Lawn of the U.S. White House. The matchup headlines a historic seven-fight card in the nation's capital, and for Topuria, it doubles as a return to competition following a lengthy absence caused by issues in his personal life — namely the champ's recent divorce and custody battle with his ex-wife.
Tensions between Topuria and Gaethje have escalated as the event nears, with Gaethje recently calling his rival "an annoying little bastard" and mocking Topuria's divorce in an interview with FOX Sports. "I can say this: I would leave him [too]," Gaethje said of Topuria. "That's all I'm saying. I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s***."
As fight week kicks off, Topuria issued a two-part response on Monday.
Said Topuria in the debut edition of the event's "UFC Embedded" series, while flipping Gaethje off with a double-bird salute:
"Take this, Justin. Take it. Actually, I thought he was a great guy. But since he crossed the personal line, he's not going to have my respect. He's not going to have my team's respect. All I'm going to need is two minutes in the octagon with you, then I'm going to put you to sleep in front of your whole family, your country, in front of everyone."
Topuria then followed up with a lengthy post on social media, once again accusing Gaethje of crossing the line when it came to his pre-fight trash talk.
Justin crossed a line.
What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business. We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter.
To everyone insulting her or speaking about things they know nothing about: show some respect.
You don't have to respect our relationship. But respecting someone's mother should be one of the most basic codes in life.
Be better.
This time, Gaethje was quick to respond. The interim champion double down on his words, calling Topuria an "insufferable little b**** boy" and pointing to past comments made by Topuria himself, prompting another near-instant response from Topuria, who promised to "break" Gaethje once the time comes on Sunday.
Said Gaethje:
Proving my point. Insufferable little b**** boy. Never said a thing about your wife. You want to speak words to my father then act like I crossed some line. We already fighting buddy.
Topuria's response:
You should've kept your father out of this. He was the one calling me a short guy and saying you'd smash me, all while holding a beer in his hand. Then you started talking about my divorce and telling the world you wouldn't want to be my roommate. Idiot. First, we're fighting, not dating. Second, I'm not looking for a roommate.
When I put you to sleep and you're lying there next to the rose, I'll look at your father and ask him one simple question: Who's the short one now?
I'm gonna break you Justin.
The UFC's White House event — also named UFC Freedom 250 — kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14.
Keep it locked to Uncrowned all week for extensive coverage of the event from Washington, D.C.