Charles Oliveira expects Ilia Topuria to knock out Justin Gaethje at UFC White House
MMA Fighting
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Charles Oliveira predicts a dramatic shift in the UFC lightweight division, with Ilia Topuria poised to defeat Justin Gaethje at the upcoming White House event on June 14. Speaking to *Olhar da Luta*, Oliveira expressed confidence that Topuria will secure a knockout win against Gaethje, solidifying his position as the interim champion and potentially vacating his title later in the year to face Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title. Meanwhile, Oliveira remains laser-focused on his own UFC 326 main event against Max Holloway, with a win there likely earning him a shot at the lightweight championship.
Oliveira’s comments come amid speculation about the White House card lineup, which has yet to be officially confirmed by the UFC. The fighter suggests that Topuria vs. Gaethje is a likely pairing for the event, given their current standings in the division. Topuria, who captured the featherweight title in 2024 and moved up to lightweight in 2025 to defeat Oliveira, has been on an impressive streak, including a dominant win over Max Holloway. Gaethje, meanwhile, holds the interim lightweight title after defeating Charles Joffre earlier this year.
Oliveira also weighed in on the highly anticipated matchup between Topuria and Makhachev, which he believes will happen later in 2026. Despite Makhachev’s recent comments about not ruling out a fight at the White House, Oliveira predicts that the bout will ultimately take place outside of the historic event. He views this potential clash as a significant draw for fans and a key moment in the welterweight division.
With Topuria potentially vacating his lightweight title by the end of 2026, Oliveira sees an open path to reclaiming the championship he lost to Topuria in 2025. Should he defeat Max Holloway at UFC 326 on March 7, Oliveira believes he would be next in line for a title shot. This strategic outlook highlights his focus on climbing back to the top of the lightweight division while keeping an eye on the broader landscape of the sport.
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Originally published on MMA Fighting on 2/21/2026