By defeating Ilia Topuria for the lightweight championship at UFC Freedom 250, Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje validated the prediction of a former division champion. That retired 155-pound kingpin who witnessed Gaethje stun the mixed martial arts community is Frankie Edgar, who himself recently secured a win against Clay Guida on the Real American Freestyle canvas at RAF 11.
An unexpected shift in the division’s landscape occurred at UFC Freedom 250 when Gaethje dominated the heretofore undefeated Topuria, forcing a corner stoppage between rounds in their June showdown. During that historic evening, Edgar watched the event alongside another prominent figure in lightweight division history, Eddie Alvarez, hosting a watch party as Gaethje successfully converted his third opportunity at the undisputed title.
While many viewed Gaethje’s triumph as a major upset, it drew parallels to Edgar’s historic victory over BJ Penn, which was framed as a monumental underdog overcoming a legendary fighter. Reflecting on these similarities, Edgar shared his perspective on Gaethje claiming the lightweight crown during a discussion [via Bowks Talking Bouts]:
“Indeed, I find it incredible. Clearly, Justin is a close friend. I believe no one earned this more than him, given everything he has endured. He has never delivered a dull performance and always leaves everything in the cage, so seeing him reach the pinnacle was fantastic. The manner in which he won was remarkable; I actually forecast a Gaethje victory, perhaps biased by our friendship and my strong desire to see him succeed.”
Edgar Says Justin Gaethje Exhibited “Grit and Soul” at UFC Freedom 250: “It Was a Classic Justin Gaethje Performance”
Expanding on his analysis of the championship bout between Gaethje and Topuria held at the White House, Edgar added [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I doubt many anticipated the fight unfolding in that manner. However, if he was going to win, that is precisely how it had to happen. It was a signature Justin Gaethje war, and I believe his jab caused significant damage to [Topuria], particularly with that laceration. I cannot say for sure if it affected his nose or the area around his eye.”
“It seemed to truly bother Ilia. [Topuria] is accustomed to controlling the pace and dictating the action. He struggles when forced to fight defensively or retreat. Because of that, Justin executed his classic game plan flawlessly. It was pure determination and resolve to secure the win. It was truly a spectacular sight.”
This piece originally debuted on BJPENN.COM
