Ilia Topuria fires back at Justin Gaethje's father ahead of June 14 fight

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has responded to comments from Justin Gaethje's father with a pointed social media post, according to Sherdog.

Topuria took aim at what he characterized as hopeful thinking from the Gaethje camp ahead of a reported June 14 date. The Georgian-Spanish champion invoked his history of proving doubters wrong, particularly those who underestimated him based on size.

Topuria invokes history of bigger, stronger opponents

"Fathers hope. Champions know," Topuria wrote, per the Sherdog report. "I've heard this story before: bigger men, stronger men, better men. Men who said I was just a small guy who was about to get a lesson in humility. They all learned the truth the same way."

The post closed with a direct message to Gaethje's father. "Your son already knows who I am," Topuria wrote. "On June 14th, you will."

Topuria has knocked out Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in his past two title fights. Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, has not fought at featherweight in the UFC.

Source: sherdog.com