Ilia Topuria admitted he exaggerated when he called the fight against Justin Gaethje a 'gift' . Scheduled to face the American in the main event of UFC Casa Branca on June 14th, the Spaniard remains confident of victory but emphasizes his respect for his opponent.
In an interview with the 'New York Post', Topuria admitted that his previous statement did not accurately reflect his rival's level. The fighter highlighted Gaethje's status and stated that he admires his style inside the octagon.
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“Calling Gaethje a ‘gift’ was a bit of an exaggeration, because he’s not a gift. He’s a legendary fighter, a Hall of Famer. I love watching all his fights and I have infinite respect for him. But I just feel like I’m much better than him. My time has come and I just need to go out there and do my job,” said Topuria.
Nevertheless, the Spaniard reaffirmed his confidence, saying he believes he is technically superior and that this is the moment to prove it. Topuria also made a point of differentiating confidence from overconfidence, stressing that he continues to train intensely and treats the match with the utmost seriousness, aware of the difficulties he will face.
“I’m just confident. If someone has excessive self-confidence, they stop training hard, they don’t put in as much effort. I take Justin very seriously. Excuse my language, but I work like a mule. I work myself to death. Because I know I have a very difficult opponent ahead of me,” concluded the Spaniard.
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