Former middleweight contender Yoel Romero says he has a simple plan to beat Ilia Topuria ahead of Topuria’s lightweight title unification fight with Justin Gaethje this June at the UFC White House event.
Romero’s plan: aim high
Romero told Overdogs Espanol that the best way to hurt Topuria is with head kicks. He said fighters should ignore low and body strikes and focus on high kicks to the head.
“One thing is imagining his power, another is feeling it,” Romero said. “My plan? Target only high kicks. Not the body, not low. Head kicks to damage the arms and force him to defend. We all know he hits hard.”
Why the idea makes sense
Topuria, 29, is moving up from featherweight to fight Justin Gaethje in the main event. He is the favorite after three straight knockout wins over big-name opponents. That kind of power makes Romero’s advice logical: attacks to the head can slow down a hard hitter and make him more cautious.
Other fighters have tried similar strategies. Jai Herbert landed a head kick that dropped Topuria at UFC London in 2022, though Topuria recovered and finished the fight. Alexander Volkanovski also used distance and kicks in his bout with Topuria.
How Gaethje fits the plan — and the risk
Justin Gaethje has the kind of kick that can end a fight. He famously knocked out Dustin Poirier with a head kick in 2023. That shows Gaethje can land the very technique Romero recommends.
But Romero’s blueprint has a major challenge. Topuria is a strong pressure fighter who likes to fight in the pocket. If Gaethje lets Topuria get inside and trades punches up close, the high-kick strategy will be hard to use consistently. Gaethje’s aggressive style could play into Topuria’s strengths if he does not keep distance.
Big picture and stakes
The fight is a lightweight title unification bout. A Topuria win would, in Joe Rogan’s view, give Topuria one of the strongest resumes in UFC history. A Gaethje win would be a major upset given current betting odds and Topuria’s recent form.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Ilia Topuria | Three straight knockout wins; moving up to lightweight to unify the title |
| Justin Gaethje | Former interim lightweight champion; head-kick KO of Dustin Poirier in 2023 |
The fight will be the main event at UFC White House this June. Both men bring power and history, and Romero’s simple message is clear: try to win the fight with high kicks to the head.
