Justin Gaethje: Holloway, Oliveira had 'plenty of success' against Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje believes he found weaknesses in Ilia Topuria's previously dominant striking defense by studying the champion's recent fights against top contenders. Gaethje will challenge Topuria for the lightweight title at UFC White House on June 14, entering as a significant +385 underdog against the -500 favorite. Topuria arrives on an impressive streak of three consecutive knockouts—defeating Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira—establishing himself as one of the division's most lethal strikers. However, upon closer examination, Gaethje observed that both Holloway and Oliveira found moments of success and won exchanges against "El Matador" during their defeats. Gaethje suggests that his veteran opponents made mistakes they couldn't recover from, but believes understanding those tactical lapses gives him an edge heading into their title bout. The insight suggests Topuria's defense, while formidable, may not be completely impenetrable for an elite striker like Gaethje.