UFC champion Ilia Topuria teased US president Donald Trump on Wednesday, as the fighter and other athletes from the upcoming White House fight card visited the Oval Office.
Historic White House Event
On 14 June, the UFC will stage an unprecedented event at the White House, as lightweight king Topuria headlines against Justin Gaethje after Alex Pereira fights Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt. The event celebrates 250 years of the United States and coincides with Mr Trump's 80th birthday.
The fighters faced off on the South Lawn and entered the Oval Office ahead of the event.
Topuria's Tease
During the meeting, Mr Trump said of Gaethje: "A friend of mine, Justin Gaethje, he loves his country so much." Topuria then asked the president: "Why did you want to give the toughest test to a friend of yours? You said he's a friend of yours; why did you want to give him the hardest test?"
Gaethje interjected: "Because he knows that's what I want." Mr Trump replied: "I do want to give the hardest test, is right, we're gonna give the hardest test. And actually, each one of you are fighting your hardest test, I think, right? How do you think you'll do? You know your opponent very well, [he's] very tough."
Topuria responded: "I know, a very tough opponent. [I feel] very good. I have complete faith. It's gonna make an amazing fight."
Fighter Reactions
In another exchange, Topuria remarked on the president's personality: "I never thought you would be so kind!" To which Mr Trump said: "Well, I have a false image."
Topuria, who is of Georgian-Spanish heritage, remains unbeaten and is a two-weight UFC champion. American Gaethje is in his second reign as interim lightweight champion and will seek to win the undisputed belt at the third time of asking against Topuria.
Co-Main Event and Other Fights
The co-main event between Pereira and Gane is the only bout on 14 June not featuring an American fighter; Pereira is Brazilian, while Gane is French.
Other fights on the card include American Sean O'Malley vs Canada's Aiemann Zahabi, US lightweight Michael Chandler vs Brazil's Mauricio Ruffy, and American Steve Garcia vs Brazilian Diego Lopes. Two all-American fights are also scheduled: Kyle Daukaus vs Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis.
The Lewis vs Hokit bout was announced during UFC 327 in Miami in April, after a request from Mr Trump, who watched cageside with UFC president Dana White. Hokit won an instant classic against Curtis Blaydes earlier that night, leading to the matchup with Lewis, one of Mr Trump's favourite fighters.
Trump on Iran and Fighters
During the Oval Office meeting, Mr Trump discussed the potential for a deal to end the US war with Iran. He asked Gaethje: "You would call that, 'We're in good shape,' right?" Gaethje replied: "Fantastic shape."
Mr Trump also praised UFC fighters: "You know, they're proud. Like, like, these guys are proud. Nobody [is] more proud than these guys. Sometimes they fight on pride because, you know, they're injured, they're hurt. No matter how great you are, you get hit by somebody else that looks like them, it's very tough. But they have great pride, these people have great pride. The others do, too; enemies have great pride."
