Ilia Topuria laughs off Ali Abdelaziz's bold claim about Justin Gaethje for UFC Freedom 250

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 lightweight champion Topuria is booked to face interim UFC lightweight champion Gaethje in a title unification match. 

The Topuria-Gaethje showdown will headline UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on June 14, 2026. 

Ali Abdelaziz makes bold claim about Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria laughs it off

With the all-important lightweight championship clash fast-approaching, many fans and experts in the MMA community have been weighing in with their predictions.

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. 

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. 

Well, taking to X, MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz put forth the following post in support of Gaethje a few hours ago: 

"Justin Gaethje is going to be @Justin_Gaethje and he will shock the world. Just stay tuned." 

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. 

 

Justin Gaethje is going to be @Justin_Gaethje and he will shock the world. Just stay tuned.

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) May 28, 2026

 

🤣

— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) May 29, 2026

Ilia Topuria has also been feuding with another client of Ali Abdelaziz

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. 

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 on August 15, 2026. One ought to note that this matchup hasn't been officially announced by the UFC yet. 

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 and that it's the UFC that's uninterested in booking their superfight. 

Nevertheless, Makhachev recently took a jibe at Topuria and the latter's team. Speaking to the UFC, the Dagestani MMA star indicated that Topuria and his team know why their superfight failed to materialize at UFC Freedom 250.