Matchup Analysis·Lightweight Bout
Red Corner
Ilia Topuria
“El Matador”
17-09 UFCLast10mo ago
Pressure Fighter
Hot Streak
4× Title
4× 5R
High Variance
Early Chaos
5'7"ht·69"reach·Orthodoxstance·298yrage
VS
Lightweight155 lbs
Blue Corner
Justin Gaethje
“The Highlight”
27-515 UFCLast3mo ago
Pressure Fighter
Aging Threat
8× Title
11× 5R
High Wear
5'11"+4"ht·70"reach·Orthodoxstance·37age
Signals1 signal
AGE GAP
Gaethje is 8 years older than Topuria.
CQ Core Edges
Topuria
+0.98
Gaethje
-0.57
Topuria
0.51
Gaethje
0.02
Topuria
75%
Gaethje
48%
CQ Durability
KO exposure history
Topuria
94
IroncladGaethje
54
Average0 KO lossesKO losses3 KO losses
0.11KD / fight0.20
CQ Pace Index
Combined SLpM
Topuria4.81SLpM
+SLpM6.48Gaethje
11.3
LowModHighExtreme
CQ Cardio Pattern
Late-fight output
TopuriaOutput Builds Late+25% R1→R3
GaethjeOutput Holds Steady+9% R1→R3
Finish History
Topuria
KO/TKO ×6Sub ×1
Finish rate (wins)
78%
7/9
Stopped rate (losses)
—
—
Gaethje
KO/TKO ×6
Finish rate (wins)
60%
6/10
Stopped rate (losses)
100%
5/5
Edge & Exposure
Topuria
EdgeUnbeaten
9 UFC fights without a loss. An unblemished record at this sample size is a meaningful form signal.
EdgeKO Threat
Finishes most opponents by KO/TKO. Can end the fight with a single clean shot.
Gaethje
No dominant edges or exposures identified from UFC record.
Opposition Quality
Topuria9–0UFC
vs. Winning-Record Opps
7–0
Record (7)
+1.1
Str Diff/Min
71%
Finish (W)
vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)+79% step-up
4–0
Record (4)
+1.4
Str Diff/Min
75%
Finish (W)
vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)
2–0
Record (2)
+2.3
Str Diff/Min
100%
Finish (W)
Gaethje10–5UFC
vs. Winning-Record Opps
9–5
Record (14)
-0.1
Str Diff/Min
67%
Finish (W)
vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)-4% step-up
6–4
Record (10)
+0.1
Str Diff/Min
100%
Finish (W)
vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)
3–2
Record (5)
+0.4
Str Diff/Min
100%
Finish (W)
Division Percentile Ranks
TopuriaLightweightGaethje
74th
Striking Differential
25th85th
Grappling Threat
28th91st
Round Win Rate
40th97th
TD Defense
68th91st
Durability
28th77th
Finishing Rate
59thRecent Form
Topuria
Stat
Gaethje
5.814.81 career
↑1.00
SLpMOutput
⚠↓1.57
4.916.48 career
5.993.83 career
⚠↑2.16
SApMAbsorbed
↓0.82
6.237.05 career
1.333.20 career
⚠↓1.87
TD AttAttempts/15m
—
0.001.10 career
⚠↓1.10
Sub AttAttempts/15m
—
Stat Breakdown
Finishes
Outcome Signal
Elevated Finish Risk
Topuria22% distance
Finish 78%Decision 22%
Gaethje27% distance
Finish 73%Decision 27%
Topuria 9 UFC fights·Gaethje 15 UFC fights
Avg Fight Length
Topuria
9.4min
Gaethje
12.1min
Combined Distance Rate
25%of fights go the distance
CQ Finish Risk
KO Danger
Topuria→Gaethje
69
Elite
Striking Threat
KDs per 15 min1.25
KO finish rate67%
Gaethje's Chin
KDs absorbed/fight0.20
KO loss rate60%
Gaethje→Topuria
36
Elevated
Striking Threat
KDs per 15 min0.74
KO finish rate60%
Topuria's Chin
KDs absorbed/fight0.11
KO loss rate0%
Sub Danger
Topuria→Gaethje
55
Elite
Sub Threat
Sub att / 15 min1.10
Sub win rate11%
Gaethje's Vulnerability
Sub loss rate40%
Gaethje→Topuria
4
Minimal
Sub Threat*
Sub att / 15 min0.00
Sub win rate0%
Topuria's Vulnerability
Sub loss rate0%
No submission wins on record. Threat estimated from attempt volume.
TopuriaWin MethodGaethje
67%
KO / TKO
60%
11%
Submission
0%
22%
Decision
40%
9 UFC wins · 6 KO · 1 Sub · 2 Dec10 UFC wins · 6 KO · 4 Dec
Topuria
Loss Method
Gaethje—
KO / TKO
60%
—
Submission
40%
—
Decision
0%
No UFC losses5 UFC losses · 3 KO · 2 Sub
Topuria7 stoppages · 6 KO · 1 Sub
R1
3
R2
3
R3
1
R40
R50
KO Win
Sub Win
All stoppages
WKOCharles OliveiraR1 · 2:27
WKOMax HollowayR3 · 1:34
WKOAlexander VolkanovskiR2 · 3:32
WSubBryce MitchellR2 · 3:10
WKOJai HerbertR2 · 1:07
Gaethje11 stoppages · 9 KO · 2 Sub
R1
4
R2
3
R3
1
R4
1
R5
2
KO Win
KO Loss
Sub Loss
All stoppages
LKOMax HollowayR5 · 4:59
WKODustin PoirierR2 · 1:00
LSubCharles OliveiraR1 · 3:22
LSubKhabib NurmagomedovR2 · 1:34
WKOTony FergusonR5 · 3:39
Historical Context
Topuria — Recent Fights
Opponent
MethodRndDate
21 SS (72%)·9 abs·61s ctrl·1 kd
75 SS (52%)·79 abs·2/2 td·45s ctrl·1 kd
35 SS (45%)·47 abs·1 kd
152 SS (44%)·87 abs·3/3 td·215s ctrl·1 kd
40 SS (52%)·36 abs·1 td taken·78s ctrl·1 kd·1 sub att
20 SS (49%)·22 abs·1/4 td·161s ctrl·1 kd·1 kd taken
Gaethje — Recent Fights
Opponent
MethodRndDate
144 SS (57%)·156 abs·3/3 td·355s ctrl·2 kd
72 SS (54%)·68 abs·0/3 td·2 td taken·92s ctrl·1 kd
103 SS (52%)·181 abs·1 kd taken
41 SS (62%)·27 abs·1 kd
103 SS (60%)·97 abs·1/3 td·5s ctrl
21 SS (64%)·30 abs·13s ctrl·1 kd·1 kd taken
Common Opponents
Max HollowaySplit result
W
Topuria
KO/TKO·R3·2024
L
Gaethje
KO/TKO·R5·2024
Charles OliveiraSplit result
W
Topuria
KO/TKO·R1·2025
L
Gaethje
Sub·R1·2022