Ilia Topuria ‘way more motivated’ for UFC White than ever before – ‘I have no fear’

A different “El Matador” is coming.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is set to defend his 155-pound title against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of the historic UFC White House card next month (Sun., June 14, 2026) in Washington, D.C. — and according to Topuria, he’s entering this fight with a completely different mindset.

By the time he steps into the cage, it will have been nearly a full year since his last appearance. During that time, some

fans questioned whether the undefeated champion was still motivated after capturing titles in two divisions and becoming one of the biggest stars in combat sports.

Topuria says they’ve got it all wrong.

“I’ve seen the complaints, actually, I’m way more motivated now because I don’t have anymore fear around,” Topuria told ESPN recently. “I don’t fear anymore that I’m going to have to pay some bills or pay some person or whatever. For the first time, I’m doing it because I really want to do it because if I didn’t want to fight, I wouldn’t fight. So this is the first time that I really want to fight.”

That’s a scary thought considering what Topuria already accomplished while climbing the ladder — capturing UFC gold in two weight classes while flattening elite competition.

Now, without the brutal Featherweight weight cuts or financial pressure hanging over him, “El Matador” believes he’s operating at an even higher level.

Oddsmakers certainly agree.

Topuria currently sits as a massive -700 betting favorite over Gaethje, though the undefeated Spaniard admits the one-sided odds feel strange.

“It is just weird,” Topuria said. “I don’t like the fact that I’m so favored. Everyone already knows that I’m going to win — and there is no big expectation, like ‘What’s going to happen in the fight!?’ Now they are trying to guess how quickly I will knock him out — I’ve never had that.”

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