Ilia Topuria Calls Out Justin Gaethje Mentioning Divorce Ahead of UFC Freedom 250 Fight
Less than a week away from his UFC lightweight unification bout at UFC Freedom 250 on White House property, undisputed champion Ilia Topuria has responded to his opponent Justin Gaethje and his recent comments regarding Topuria's divorce from his ex-wife Giorgina Uzcategui. The two fighters, who will be squaring off in the Octagon on June 14, started going back and forth on social media, making their upcoming fight more personal.
Gaethje began the feud by slyly referencing Topuria's divorce during a Fox Sports Australia interview, saying, "I would leave him."
Topuria fired back at Gaethje through social media, writing a long message on X directed at the interim champion.
"Justin crossed a line. What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business," he wrote.
Topuria made it clear that although he divorced Uzcategui, he still respects her as a co-parent. Gaethje, in Topuria's eyes, has no right to bring her up in their pre-fight trash talk.
"We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter," Topuria continued. "To everyone insulting her or speaking about things they know nothing about: show some respect."
Rather than use profanity or follow up with an insult, Topuria punctuated his message with a call to action for Gaethje as well as any UFC fans and media that speak ill of his ex-wife.
He concluded the post, saying, "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."
Gaethje Fires Back
The usually stoic Gaethje was quick to respond to Topuria on X.
Less than two hours after Topuria posted his message, Gaethje responded, "Proving my point. Insufferable little b- boy."
Gaethje also clarified that he never mentioned Uzcategui's name explicitly.
"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," Gaethje posted.
Gaethje clarified, claiming Topuria actually started the feud with this post:
Fathers hope. Champions know.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 2, 2026
I've heard this story before: bigger men, stronger men, better men. Men who said I was just a small guy who was about to get a lesson in humility.
They all learned the truth the same way.
Your son already knows who I am. On June 14th, you will… https://t.co/gh92btnpDG
Topuria, however, was responding to comments from Gaethje's father, who said in Justin's YouTube vlog, "Justin's fighting another little short guy, and he's done really well against Chandler, Fiziev, and a few others. I just see the same thing happening for this fight. This is what we trained for. This is what he put his whole life into."
Topuria even brought up that fact in a follow-up post, quoting Gaethje's response:
You should've kept your father out of this.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 8, 2026
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… https://t.co/siCzS9rNUj
Topuria also responded to Gaethje's claim that he never mentioned his wife, saying, "You started talking about my divorce and telling the world you wouldn't want to be my roommate."
The logical fallacies in Gaethje's X response led many fans to believe that it was the work of Gaethje's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who is infamous for using social media profiles of his fighters to engage in trash-talk with their opponents. Abdelaziz has previously used his personal account accidentally while speaking on behalf of his fighters.
Topuria's Opinion on Gaethje Shifts
Whether Gaethje's response on X was written by him or by Abdelaziz is a moot point for Topuria. Gaethje's words are credited in the Fox Sports interview, and he can no longer take back his words regarding Topuria's divorce.
He followed up on Instagram Live to give his unfiltered feelings about "The Highlight."
(via Happy Punch on X):
Ilia Topuria just went live and said he lost all respect for Justin Gaethje
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 8, 2026
"I never lacked motivation to knock him out. But at first, I had a little respect for him. I saw him as a decent kid. But he proved he's an idiot. I always had a feeling." pic.twitter.com/fKNfXzjhIC
"He proved- well, I confirmed- that he's an idiot," Topuria said, bluntly. "I always had a feeling, but it's like, I've never been that close to him."
The freshly brewed bad blood between Gaethje and Topuria is great news for the UFC, as the main event fighters now have a legitimate conflict going into their fist-fight. With UFC Freedom 250 less than a week out, the two will be able to settle their feud in the cage.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 9:36 PM.