Du Plessis backs Gaethje’s aggression but predicts a Topuria win at UFC Freedom 250

UFC Freedom 250’s lightweight title unification is set to put two high-intensity styles against each other, and Dricus Du Plessis believes Justin Gaethje will enter the White House main event with the same mindset that has fueled his reputation for nonstop danger. Du Plessis, a former UFC middleweight champion speaking ahead of Sunday’s matchup, said he does not expect Gaethje to shrink from the moment or from Ilia Topuria’s star power.

In a preview framing Topuria as a fighter who does not merely win but “does it spectacularly,” Du Plessis positioned the fight as a collision between Gaethje’s willingness to trade and Topuria’s methodical approach to finishing. Topuria comes into the bout as the lightweight champion with an undefeated MMA record listed at 17-0 and 9-0 in the UFC, while Gaethje is described as the interim champion at 27-5 in MMA and 10-5 in the UFC. The unification element matters because it settles who carries the undisputed lightweight title after two champions were established through different paths.

Du Plessis’ view was blunt about temperament. He said Gaethje is “not scared of Ilia Topuria,” and added that Gaethje is not naïve about what he faces. The former champion argued that Gaethje will not be tempted to follow a typical script of going “crazy” in the pocket against Topuria, because Topuria is “too calculated” and “hits too hard.” In that sense, Du Plessis’ prediction is less about whether Gaethje wants a fight and more about whether Gaethje will choose the right mix of entries and tactics to score consistently.

The tactical hinge in Du Plessis’ forecast was the leg-kick strategy and how it might set up Gaethje’s most dangerous weapons. He pointed to Du Plessis’ expectation that Gaethje’s route to victory would begin with his leg kicks, describing them as devastating, while also referencing the role of head-kick power that has produced results in Gaethje’s recent history. He connected those impacts to the broader problem Topuria presents, saying Topuria has “a lot better grappling and wrestling,” which makes clean, controlled exchanges harder to sustain for a fighter who is built around confrontation.

Du Plessis also questioned the assumption that Gaethje can simply mirror the approach other opponents have used. He said the key is setting things up so the fight does not become a prolonged, high-risk trade in the pocket, where Topuria’s timing and finishing threat could tilt the bout. From Du Plessis’ perspective, the most credible version of Gaethje is one that uses kicks to damage and slow, then attacks with purpose rather than volume.

For Topuria, the matchup is a chance to solidify his position at the top of the lightweight division with a full unification win, and for Gaethje it is a test of whether a fighter known for wars can translate that aggression into a controlled plan against an opponent with both striking and wrestling depth. Du Plessis’ prediction that Gaethje will lose, despite his confidence that Gaethje is not intimidated, underscores how the former champion sees the fight as more than a strength contest. It is a question of strategy, particularly whether Gaethje can neutralize Topuria’s pace and take away the routes that lead to grappling control.

What to watch next is the first round’s tactical choices. If Gaethje establishes leg kicks early and keeps Topuria from turning exchanges into clinches, the fight could become a longer, more punishing striking problem for the champion. If Topuria is able to absorb damage, close distance efficiently, and drag Gaethje into wrestling ranges, Du Plessis’ theme about grappling advantages may become the deciding factor. Either way, the unification setting adds urgency, because the winner’s path forward in the lightweight title picture becomes clearer immediately after UFC Freedom 250.