According to a UFC contender, the promotion may have made a strategic error in scheduling Justin Gaethje to face Ilia Topuria on June 14.
The UFC Freedom 250 event, intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, will be held on the South Lawn of the White House. The main event will feature a lightweight title unification bout between the reigning champion Ilia Topuria and the two-time interim champion, Justin Gaethje.
Many observers, including oddsmakers, fans, and analysts, already anticipate that Topuria, nicknamed “El Matador,” will secure a knockout victory over Gaethje, potentially leading to Gaethje’s retirement. Topuria himself has publicly predicted a first-round knockout.
Colby Covington Expresses Concern Over Gaethje’s Matchup
In a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Colby Covington, who is not scheduled to be part of the White House event, shared his perspective on the June 14 headliner and other fights. Covington, also known as “Chaos,” believes the UFC has made a significant misstep by pitting American fighters against formidable champions and top contenders from other nations during a patriotic American celebration.
He stated:
“This is a celebration of the 250th birthday of the greatest country on Earth, America. You would expect to see more American fighters, from top to bottom. You might even expect some favorable matchups for the Americans, but Justin Gaethje is being sent to the slaughter at the White House. I mean, Topuria is the best fighter on the planet right now. No one can dispute that. He’s been finishing guys like Holloway, Volkanovski, and Oliveira. He’s on another level, and he’s in his prime, while Gaethje is on his way down… They didn’t put the best American fighters on the card.”
Colby Covington further criticized the UFC’s matchmaking by pointing to the bout between the 39-year-old Michael Chandler, who is currently on a three-fight losing streak, and the dynamic knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy. Covington views this as another questionable matchmaking decision for the White House card.