Ilia Topuria may want to take a note of what Justin Gaethje overwhelmed against Charles Oliveira three years ago.
Topuria will fight against Oliveira on UFC 317, where the pair will be given the task of closing the International Vechtweek in Las Vegas.
Their fight for the empty lightweight title came together as a result of the Islam Makhachev that moved to Welterweight and set his sights on the gold of Jack della Maddalena.
'El Matador' has been largely focused on his rivalry with the champion in recent days, with Topuria Branding Makhachev a “coward” for leaving the division.
But the Georgian-Spaniard will soon have to pay full attention to Oliveira, especially seen what opponents of the past have said about the Brazilian.
A dream will come out on 28 June. I will be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance … I just fight for my dreams. It is a pity that Makhachev ran away. 17-0 🌹 pic.twitter.com/ysuthz4u2h
– Ilia Topuria (@topuriailia) 13 May 2025
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Justin Gaethje was surprised by the power of Charles Oliveira on UFC 274
Before he met Makhachev in October 2022 and did not regain the lightweight Kroon, Oliveira confirmed that opportunity by bouncing back from a weight debacle against 'the highlight'.
After he was stripped of the title on the scale, 'Do Bronx' continued his remarkable series of victories at UFC 274, where Oliveira Gaethje choked.
Although the ground threat of the Brazilian was much discussed in the run-up, not much predicted Oliveira had to drop the former interim champion in the way he did to set up the entry.
And Gaethje was just as surprised as everyone else.
“You hit hard as F – K,” Gaethje shouted during a backstage interview with Oliveira that could be seen in UFC 274: The Thrill and the Agony.
Justin Gaethje said Charles Oliveira got the most difficult blow he was ever confronted
During a media scrum backstage on UFC 278 a few months later, Gaethje expanded what he told Oliveira after their fight.
“Charles was brilliant. And he often hurt me, he hurt me early. 10 seconds in, I was really injured, and probably four times after that. I felt something that I never felt in the cage,” said Gaethje. “It is just one of those fights that I was opposed to all the time.
“It is a feeling that I have never felt before. Usually you are touched, you call it a buzz, call it a flash. This is more like my tongue just went on a super powerful battery and it was just … My whole body was crazy,” Gaethje added. “They were perfect photos, perfect time, one or the other.”
Oliveira not only hit hard, but Gaethje placed the Brazilian above people like Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson as the most powerful puncher he has ever confronted.
“I think the best shot that landed on me was from Oliveira,” he said during a promotional Q&A for UFC 300. “The same shot 100 times, you don't see it once, and it's so much more effective.
“That was the case that night. He caught me overwhelmed and surprised, and it hurt.”
With that in mind, while Topuria is considered a better striker than Oliveira, the Golf is in power between 'El Matador' and 'Do Bronx' may not be as big as many.