Islam Makhachev leans toward Ilia Topuria in UFC White House title unification, says fight likely won’t last

Islam Makhachev is keeping a close eye on the UFC’s White House main event. In comments made ahead of UFC Freedom 250, the former lightweight champion offered his prediction for the lightweight title unification between Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje, framing it as a matchup the fans should not expect to treat like a chess game.

Makhachev said he is leaning toward Topuria, while still insisting Gaethje cannot be dismissed. “Of course I’m not counting Gaethje out,” Makhachev said, calling the challenger an “old warhorse” with experience. He contrasted that durability with Topuria’s youth, and he suggested the younger fighter is the safer bet in a fight that has legitimate 50-50 elements depending on how quickly momentum shifts.

The prediction went beyond who he favors. Makhachev also indicated he expects the fight not to go the distance. “I believe this fight definitely won’t go the distance,” he said, adding that he is “leaning towards Topuria winning.” That kind of forecast matters because it reflects how he sees the tactical shape of the bout, particularly whether Gaethje’s pressure and power can force a prolonged, grinding contest or whether Topuria’s style can create the kind of decisive window that ends rounds early.

The White House setting has turned the event into more than a standard title defense atmosphere. UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled for June 14 on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., and the lightweight unification bout serves as the centerpiece for a card marketed around national spotlight and mainstream attention. For the UFC, it is an effort to place a current championship narrative into a historic venue, not just a location with a large crowd but a venue that carries symbolic weight.

Makhachev’s comments also touched the matchup chatter that has followed both Topuria and himself for months. When asked whether a win by Topuria could open the door to a bigger next chapter, Makhachev responded more cautiously. He said the topic has been “a lot of talk,” but he added that “Topuria himself and his team know why the Topuria vs. Makhachev fight won’t happen at the White House,” implying there is more involved than hype or public scheduling.

That stance matters because the lightweight division is in the middle of a consolidation phase. A unification bout does not just decide who is holding a specific belt. It resets what the division’s hierarchy looks like, and it can influence how quickly a “must-watch” super-fight becomes feasible. A Topuria win would complete the unification storyline while also strengthening the claim that he is the clear standard at lightweight, which could accelerate negotiations for the highest-profile contender left in the title-picture.

For Gaethje, the challenge is straightforward but steep: he enters as interim champion, meaning he is operating with a title-level responsibility even without the full-time belt from the opening weeks of the championship cycle. If his game plan can force exchanges long enough to blunt Topuria’s pace and scoring, Makhachev’s confidence could be tested early. If not, the fight script he suggested, a non-distance outcome with Topuria pulling away, becomes more plausible.

What to watch next is whether the bout’s early minutes confirm Makhachev’s expectation about the fight’s length. The unification also carries a secondary impact for how quickly the winner’s next opponent gets named, and it will likely shape how fast the UFC can move from “interim” questions back to a single, dominant lightweight narrative.