Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria

Pro 17-1-0  |  UFC 9-1-0
VS

Justin Gaethje

Pro 28-5-0  |  UFC 11-5-0
Age
29|37
Height
5'7"|5'11"
Reach
69"|70"
Stance
Orthodox|Orthodox

Career Statistics

Statistic Ilia Topuria Justin Gaethje Edge
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy50.1%57.6%—
Sig. Strikes Landed/min4.86.3►
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min4.06.8◄
Strike Differential0.8/min-0.5/min◄
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy57.1%26.7%◄
Takedown Defense95.2%73.3%◄
Takedowns Landed/15min1.70.3◄
Submission Attempts/15min0.90.0◄
Control Time/15min3:040:59◄
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins66.7%63.6%—
Submission % of Wins11.1%0.0%—
Decision % of Wins22.2%36.4%—
Avg Fight Time10:2512:38—
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min1.20.7—
Reversals/15min0.00.0—
Edges711 even

Fight Dynamics

Career Striking Volume
Ilia Topuria   Justin Gaethje   League median
StatisticIlia TopuriaJustin GaethjeEdge
Fight Shape
Fight Completion Rate52.1%56.2%—
Avg Fight Time10:2512:38—
% Fights Inside the Distance80.0%75.0%—
Strength of UFC Schedule
Opponent UFC Win % (all)75.4%77.2%—
Opponent UFC Record (all)92-30 (75.4%)190-56 (77.2%)—
Opponent Record (among wins)82-25 (76.6%)120-35 (77.4%)—
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)73.3%90.2%—
% Time in Control20.5%6.6%◀
% Time Controlled6.3%3.3%—
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time76.5%66.8%—
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Landed / Min5.075.84—
Distance Sig. Absorbed / Min5.016.75◀
Distance Striking Differential / Min+0.05-0.91◀
Distance Strike Accuracy45.8%54.9%▶
Distance Strike Defense63.4%52.8%◀
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes2.160.96◀
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed0.300.34—
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min1.380.41—
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min1.380.82—
Fade Index (R3 / R1 pace)0.931.04—
UFC fights only. Metrics with insufficient data show "—" and award no edge. Methodology →

Last 5 Fights (Averages)

Statistic Ilia Topuria Justin Gaethje Edge
Sig. Strike Accuracy50.3%53.4%—
Sig. Strikes Landed/min5.65.0—
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min4.65.8◄
Takedown Accuracy75.0%27.3%◄
Takedown Defense100.0%70.0%◄
Control Time/Fight1:351:48—
Edges303 even

Last 3 Fights

Ilia Topuria

LOSS
vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Freedom 250 • Jun 2026LightweightTITLE
KO/TKO • Rd 4, 5:00
Ilia Topuria97/16260%TD 1/3Ctrl 2:32KD 1
Justin Gaethje91/19247%TD 0/5Ctrl 1:32
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Charles Oliveira
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira • Jun 2025LightweightTITLE
KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 1, 2:27
Ilia Topuria21/2972%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:01KD 1
Charles Oliveira9/1656%TD 0/2Ctrl 0:21
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Max Holloway
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway • Oct 2024FeatherweightTITLE
KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 3, 1:34
Ilia Topuria75/14452%TD 2/2Ctrl 0:45KD 1
Max Holloway79/20439%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
▼ Rounds

Justin Gaethje

WIN
vs. Ilia Topuria
UFC Freedom 250 • Jun 2026LightweightTITLE
KO/TKO • Rd 4, 5:00
Justin Gaethje91/19247%TD 0/5Ctrl 1:32
Ilia Topuria97/16260%TD 1/3Ctrl 2:32KD 1
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Paddy Pimblett
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett • Jan 2026LightweightTITLE
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 5, 5:00
Justin Gaethje144/25457%TD 3/3Ctrl 5:55KD 2
Paddy Pimblett156/31150%TD 0/5Ctrl 0:48
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Rafael Fiziev
UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev • Mar 2025Lightweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Justin Gaethje72/13454%TD 0/3Ctrl 1:32KD 1
Rafael Fiziev68/11957%TD 2/2Ctrl 0:40
▼ Rounds

Common Opponents

vs. Charles Oliveira
Ilia Topuria
WIN
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira • Jun 2025LightweightTITLE
KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 1, 2:27
Ilia Topuria21/2972%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:01KD 1
Charles Oliveira9/1656%TD 0/2Ctrl 0:21
▼ Rounds
Justin Gaethje
LOSS
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje • May 2022Lightweight
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 1, 3:22
Justin Gaethje21/3364%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:13KD 1
Charles Oliveira30/4764%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:39KD 1
▼ Rounds
vs. Max Holloway
Ilia Topuria
WIN
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway • Oct 2024FeatherweightTITLE
KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 3, 1:34
Ilia Topuria75/14452%TD 2/2Ctrl 0:45KD 1
Max Holloway79/20439%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
▼ Rounds
Justin Gaethje
LOSS
UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill • Apr 2024Lightweight
KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 5, 4:59
Justin Gaethje103/19952%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00
Max Holloway181/30959%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00KD 1
▼ Rounds

Analysis Summary

Striking Volume: Justin Gaethje is the busier striker, landing 6.3 significant strikes per minute vs 4.8. Their opponent absorbs 4.0 strikes per minute on average — Justin Gaethje's output should find a target.

Grappling: Ilia Topuria shoots at 57% accuracy but Justin Gaethje stops 73% of attempts — the takedown path looks difficult.

Finish Threat: Ilia Topuria finishes 78% of wins (67% KO/TKO, 11% sub). Justin Gaethje finishes 64% of wins (64% KO/TKO, 0% sub).

Fight Length: Justin Gaethje's fights average 12:38 vs 10:25 for Ilia Topuria. If this reaches the championship rounds, Justin Gaethje's conditioning history becomes a factor.

Last updated: 2026-08-22 | Data source: UFCStats.com