One of the UFC’s most dangerous lightweight contenders has given his verdict on a blockbuster fight that has had fans talking for the last few months.

The lightweight division has rarely lacked excitement, with some of the most explosive fighters in mixed martial arts history competing at 155lbs. As a result, any match-up involving two elite contenders quickly captures the imagination of fans. And when a former champion weighs in with a prediction, people tend to listen.

One of the division’s most respected names has recently revealed who he believes will come out on top in a showdown between two of the UFC’s most feared knockout artists.

The fighter making the prediction is none other than BMF Champion Charles Oliveira, who has shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje

Topuria has rapidly become one of the most dominant figures in the sport following his rise through the featherweight ranks and subsequent move to lightweight, where his power and confidence have made him an immediate threat to the division’s elite.

Gaethje, meanwhile, remains one of the most violent and unpredictable fighters in UFC history. Known for his relentless pressure and devastating striking, the American has long been considered one of the toughest match-ups at 155lbs.

Despite Gaethje’s reputation for chaos inside the Octagon, Oliveira believes Topuria will ultimately get the job done when the pair meet this weekend at the UFC’s historic White House event.

Charles Oliveira Makes Topuria vs Gaethje Prediction

“A fight’s a fight, but my money will be on Topuria to win,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter.

Oliveira also made it clear that he is not interested in chasing revenge against fighters who have beaten him in the past. Instead, his focus remains firmly on climbing back to the top of the lightweight division and fighting for the belt once again.

Speaking ahead of his UFC 326 fight, which he ended up winning, the Brazilian said: “I’m one fight away [from fighting for the belt], but right now I’m focused on one thing only: Max Holloway. But if we’re going to speculate like everyone else, I think he [Topuria] has every chance in the world to knock Gaethje out and keep the belt. Then, I think by the end of the year, he fights Makhachev for the title and vacates his belt.”

Rather than dwelling on past defeats, the Brazilian prefers to focus on the future and on the ultimate goal that has driven him throughout his time in the UFC.

“The reality is, I’m not looking for rematches, I’m not looking for revenge on the guys who have fought me,” Oliveira said. “I’m just looking to fight, and I want to win, and I want to be the champion. So, whoever has the belt, that’s who I’m fighting. It’s not specifically looking for that rematch with him.”

With the lightweight division continuing to evolve and new contenders emerging all the time, Oliveira’s experience and finishing ability mean he is unlikely to be far away from another major opportunity.

And with Topuria vs Gaethje set to take place at the UFC White House event, the Brazilian has already made it clear who he expects to leave the Octagon victorious.

The NBA Finals is supposed to be a celebration of basketball, seven exhilarating games between the Eastern and Western Conference champions to decide the league champion, but sometimes there are things that attract more attention than the events on the court.

This year, the NBA Finals are being played between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, extending the NBA record of unique champions to eight different champions across eight consecutive seasons.

The Knicks began the series by winning two consecutive games, the first time a team has won two games to open the NBA Finals since 1995.

Interestingly, the series is a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals in which the Spurs won five games for their first NBA championship. The two sides also met in the 2025 NBA Cup championship game with the Knicks defeating the Spurs 124-113 to mark the first time that the two NBA Cup finalists would meet in that year’s NBA Finals.

In the regular season, the two teams had a win apiece. However, the Knicks had one of the most dominant playoff performances in NBA history, entering the Finals with an impressive 11-game postseason winning streak, the third longest in the competition’s history, and a record playoff victory margin of 19.4 points per game.

The New York side are attempting to end a 53-year championship drought, which is the fifth-longest in the NBA, but the Spurs won’t make it easy for them and their youth could be an advantage. The Spurs are the second-youngest side in history to reach the NBA Finals with an average of 25.06, behind only the 1976-77 Trail Blazers with a 25.03 average.

Donald Trump Attended Game 3 of NBA Finals

Nathan Howard via Reuters Imagn Images

One of the teams does also have a famous fan in their midst. The US President, Donald Trump, is a lifelong Knicks fan, and he made an appearance at Game Three of the series on the 8th of June after being invited by the team’s owner, James Dolan.

This made Trump the only sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, though, this historic moment didn’t generate the warm welcome he may have been expecting.

As the camera panned towards him during the national anthem, loud boos could be heard around the venue. As the boos grew in volume, Trump could be seen saluting and smiling, seemingly unfazed. The cheers only resumed once the Knicks players could be seen on screen.

His arrival by car to the stadium was met by signs reading ‘Nobody wants you here’ and ‘Trump must go.’ The chants of ‘USA, USA, USA’ for the flag faded as soon as he could be seen, standing in a suite surrounded by thick glass. His appearance was also met with heightened security, comparable to the TSA-style check-ins at US airports, and the closure of areas five miles (eight kilometres) in each direction around Madison Square Garden, which wouldn’t have endeared him to fans.

However, he has seemingly misinterpreted the poor reception he received as something of a more positive nature, believing the jeering fans were actually pleased to see him.

Donald Trump’s Reaction to Boos at MSG

When asked about the reception from Knicks fans after the game, Trump said: “I thought it was great. I thought it was amazing, actually.

“You mean when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good, it was certainly amazing.”

He provided further confusion when he claimed: “I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud and it was very enthusiastic.”

The Knicks fans are unlikely to share that opinion, and it provides another layer to Trump’s dwindling popularity in the United States, with his appearances met with anger and derision.

The 79-year-old has announced his intention to attend Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which will take place on the 11th of June in New York, though, it is unknown whether he’ll face a better reception at the second time of asking.

It sets an uncomfortable tone for the football World Cup, which is due to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico from the 11th of June to the 19th of July, with political tension clearly visible to international audiences.

Crystal Palace are looking to strengthen their squad after qualifying for the Europa League, and are ready to make their first move of the summer transfer window.

The Eagles qualified for the tournament after winning the Conference League, their third trophy in 12 months after the FA Cup and Community Shield, and despite losing manager Oliver Glasner at the end of his contract, they are looking to continue their upwards trajectory.

The club are braced for interest in a number of their top stars as the window progresses, but owner Steve Parish is pushing to keep the squad together and add to it, starting with a highly sought-after midfield talent.

Crystal Palace Set to Bid for Hackney

According to the reliable Bobby Manzi, Crystal Palace are preparing a £20m offer to sign Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney this summer.

Hackney, who has been described as ‘the next Declan Rice‘, is expected to leave the Riverside this summer after they failed to secure a place in the Premier League, while he is entering the final 12 months of his contract with the club too.

Everton are understood to be the frontrunners for his signature, but have tabled two offers worth £12m and £15m for his services, which is way below what his current club are looking for.

Now Palace are hoping to gazump them with a £20m offer of their own, although Boro are believed to be holding out for around £25m despite his contract status.

Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton’s futures are uncertain, and with European football to offer next season they may be able to convince the 23-year-old to make the move to south London instead of Merseyside.

Crystal Palace Must Repeat Trick for Hackney

Palace have impressed in the transfer market in recent years by being the side to take a gamble on top Championship talent, develop them, and then reap the rewards.

It’s something that they have done with the likes of Wharton, Eberechi Eze, and Michael Olise in recent years, and those players have all gone on to become top talents playing at the highest level. Hackney has the potential to do the same, and that means them going for a deal makes sense.

They have European football, they have the perfect pathway to regular first-team football for him, and they have the cash to get Middlesbrough to sanction a move, so this is one to keep a close eye on.