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Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje get into heated exchange in face-to-face interview
As UFC Freedom 250 inches closer, the trash talk between the main event fighters has steadily escalated. The event, which takes place on the White House lawn on June 14, is headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim titleholder Justin Gaethje.
The two appeared on Tuesday's The Pat McAfee Show in a joint interview but in separate locations. The two immediately began taking verbal shots at each other. Topuria believes Gaethje crossed the line when bringing up his divorce in a recent interview.
"I think it definitely doesn't need to be personal. I mean, ultimately we're going to try to hurt each other. So, I guess that is pretty personal," Gaethje said when asked about the smack talk leading up to the fight.
"But that is the job that we do. I never said anything personal. But we're very vulnerable when it comes to fight week. We're very emotional and so we take everything personal and so no matter what I said or didn't say, we're going to take it personal. No matter what he says, I'm going to take it personal because I have a chip on my shoulder and this guy's trying to fight me, beat me up," Gaethje continued.
"I'm not going to take anything personal from you. Don't worry about it. Don't worry," Topuria responded, talking over Gaethje. "I find the first difference here is you are going to try to hurt me and I'm actually going to hurt you. That's the difference between me and you. You are going to try to do something and I'm going to do it."
"I respect Justin as an opponent. I think he's done great things in the sport, but there are big difference between me and him. As he said, he's going to try to do things and I'm going to do it. I'm going to deliver. I'm not going to try to do anything. I'm going to do it," Topuria said.
"He believes everything he says. He sits around and smells his own farts and he thinks he's God. He's human, just like me. I'm going to show him right when I touch his chin he's going to go to sleep just like anybody would whenever I land my shots," Gaethje responded.
The two then engaged in a fierce exchange Watch the full interview below.
