Javier Mendez has watched Justin
Gaethje‘s victory over Ilia
Topuria nine times. The veteran coach says the bout’s
back-and-forth action makes it unlike anything he has seen.
Gaethje dethroned the previously unbeaten Topuria to win the
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title in the main
event of
UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June.
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Javier Mendez praises Justin Gaethje’s UFC title win over Ilia
Topuria for its dramatic momentum swings
After a closely contested first round, Topuria nearly finished
Gaethje with body shots and submission attempts in the second, but
the American survived. “The Highlight” found success over the next
two rounds, though “El Matador” continued to have his moments.
Topuria’s corner stopped the bout after the fourth round, giving
Gaethje the victory by technical knockout.
Speaking on Submission Radio, Mendez described the matchup as his
favorite fight to watch, emphasizing how the momentum repeatedly
shifted between Gaethje and Topuria.
“I’ve watched that sucker nine times now,” Mendez said.
Mendez said the action went back and forth from the opening bell to
the finish, leaving him unsure who would ultimately prevail. He
contrasted the matchup with Khabib
Nurmagomedov’s victory over Conor
McGregor, saying he had watched that fight three times.
“This one here, from the beginning till the finish, there’s no way
in hell you’re going to tell me that it was one-sided,” Mendez
added. “That thing went back and forth from the beginning. Where in
the history of MMA, seriously, think about this, when have you seen
it back and forth like that? Never.”