Justin Gaethje says he has a blueprint to defeat Ilia Topuria this weekend, but fans will have to wait until fight night to see exactly what it is.
The interim lightweight champion (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is set to face undisputed titleholder Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in a title unification bout in the main event of UFC Freedom 250, which takes place Sunday night at the White House.
As he prepares for one of the biggest fights of his career, Gaethje remains confident in the game plan he and longtime coach Trevor Wittman have put together for the undefeated champion.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, "The Highlight" revealed that his team has a strategy in place, though he isn't willing to share any details before stepping into the Octagon.
"I mean, I definitely got a plan," Gaethje said. "I definitely can't speak about that plan because I got to show it to you on Sunday night. I have one of the best coaches in the world and we have a plan to be perfect."
Gaethje stressed that facing a fighter as dangerous as Topuria leaves little room for error, making flawless execution a necessity rather than a goal.
"Ultimately, you have to be perfect when it comes to these fights," Gaethje said. "You cannot make mistakes. Guys this dangerous, you know, one mistake can cost you everything. And so I have to be perfect at the end of the day."
With fight week entering its final stages, Gaethje acknowledged that one of the most important tasks remaining before the championship showdown is successfully making weight and recovering afterward.
Asked about his focus in the days leading up to the fight, Gaethje pointed to the final steps of the preparation process.
"Yeah, right. That's a big part of our job is making weight and then rehydrating," Gaethje said. "You know, being perfect."
Gaethje enters UFC Freedom 250 looking to unify the lightweight titles and hand Topuria his first defeat inside the Octagon. While the former interim champion is keeping his tactical approach under wraps, he is confident that the work he and Wittman have put in throughout training camp has prepared him for the challenge awaiting him on Sunday night.
