Topuria shoves Gaethje by Lincoln Memorial ahead of White House UFC event

UFC Freedom 250 will proceed after ⁠a federal judge denies a legal challenge to the event on Friday.Ilia Topuria shoved Justin Gaethje in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, as tensions spiked in the final news conference before their headlining bout at the UFC’s White House event this weekend.Topuria, the unbeaten Georgian-Spanish lightweight belt holder, is coming back from a nearly yearlong hiatus following ⁠his highly publicised divorce.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UFC 250: Topuria-Gaethje blockbuster to take place in front of US presidentlist 2 of 4Ronda Rousey retires again after 17-second submission defeat of Gina Caranolist 3 of 4UFC: Strickland downs Khamzat on split decision to take middleweight beltlist 4 of 4Carlos Prates punishes Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night Australiaend of listGaethje is the interim champion and a beloved American brawler who upset the highly touted Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in January to earn the belt amid Topuria’s absence.UFC boss Dana White separated the fighters after Topuria shoved Gaethje during the face-off at Friday’s news conference. Gaethje laughed after the incident and said to his opponent: “Look where we’re at, look at this beautiful view and you want to act like an animal?”Earlier, Topuria, 29, said he was going to knock Gaethje out in the first round of their fight on Sunday night.“I know I’m best in the world, in two days we’re going to share the same place. I know I’m the best, just prove me wrong if you can,” said Topuria.Gaethje, 37, dismissed Topuria’s threats by saying that his experience would be the decisive factor.“I have so much experience in the cage that I am going to use that experience to be great. All I have to do is go in there and be great … I am going to go in there and put it on the line. That’s all I can do,” he said.Topuria and Gaethje face off at the Lincoln Memorial [Al Drago/Getty Images via AFP]Before Topuria’s departure, he was in the midst of a three-fight run among the most iconic in the history of the sport. Within the span of 16 months, Topuria needed just six total rounds to dispose ‌of future Hall of Famers Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, each by devastating knockout.