TLDR
- Ilia Topuria accused Justin Gaethje of having something hidden in his gloves after losing by fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250
- UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski said he saw something pop out but questioned how it passed pre-fight inspections
- Volkanovski believes Topuria may be using the controversy to build interest in a potential rematch with Gaethje
- The Australian champion said Gaethje fought a perfect fight while Topuria used the wrong strategy
- Max Holloway mocked Gaethje’s recent claim about leaving every UFC opponent battered
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | sports.yahoo.com
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has weighed in on Ilia Topuria’s controversial accusation that Justin Gaethje had something hidden in his gloves during their fight at UFC Freedom 250. The champion admitted seeing something unusual but raised questions about how any foreign object could have passed pre-fight inspections.
Topuria suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career when Gaethje stopped him via fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250. The lightweight bout ended with Gaethje winning decisively over the previously undefeated Spanish fighter.
Following the loss, Topuria claimed there was “something weird” inside Gaethje’s gloves. He linked the alleged object to the facial injuries he sustained during the fight.
Volkanovski Questions the Glove Claims
Volkanovski acknowledged witnessing something during the fight. “I remember seeing something pop out,” the Australian fighter said.
However, he questioned the logistics of how anyone could place a foreign object inside standard MMA gloves without detection. UFC officials inspect gloves before fighters enter the cage and oversee the entire wrapping and glove-checking process.
Justin Gaethje says MMA should have 51 judges instead of just 3 🤔
“It’s impossible to take human bias out of the equation. They need more people. Right now it takes 2 people to f*ck everything up.
Put half of them in the arena, half of them out of the arena.”
(via @ipickwins) pic.twitter.com/VniRXpS25S
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 18, 2026
The featherweight champion suggested Topuria understands the glove issue was not the main reason for his defeat. He believes the controversy could help Topuria generate interest in a potential rematch with Gaethje.
“Ilia fought the wrong fight,” Volkanovski said. He praised Gaethje’s performance, stating “Justin fought the perfect fight.”
Volkanovski expects Topuria to make major tactical changes if a rematch happens. Rather than repeating the same approach, Topuria would likely alter his movement and find different ways to close the distance against Gaethje.
The Australian champion has personal experience fighting Topuria. At UFC 298 in February 2024, Topuria stopped Volkanovski in the second round to capture the UFC featherweight championship.
Mixed Reactions From UFC Community
Other fighters have responded more critically to Topuria’s accusations. Arman Tsarukyan called them a “lame excuse” for the fighter’s first professional loss.
Max Holloway also entered the conversation by mocking recent comments from Gaethje. Gaethje had claimed he leaves every UFC opponent battered, which Holloway apparently found questionable.
Meanwhile, a UFC legend has expressed interest in seeing Gaethje face rising star Mauricio Ruffy. The potential matchup has generated discussion among fans and fighters.
Topuria’s allegations have kept the former champion in headlines since UFC Freedom 250. The controversy has placed additional attention on both fighters and the possibility of a second bout.
Volkanovski’s comments carry weight given his championship status and firsthand experience fighting Topuria. His perspective offers insight into how top fighters view both the glove controversy and Topuria’s performance.
The UFC has not released an official statement addressing Topuria’s glove accusations. Standard pre-fight procedures include multiple inspections of all equipment, including hand wraps and gloves, by commission officials and UFC staff.
