When Eddie Alvarez talks about Justin Gaethje, the MMA world listens—and for good reason. Alvarez was the man who handed "The Highlight" his very first professional loss back at UFC 218 in December 2017. Now, years later, Alvarez has some crucial advice for his former foe as Gaethje prepares to face the undefeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 on June 13 in Washington.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is stepping into the Octagon as a significant betting underdog against the unbeaten Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC). Many fans and pundits have already written him off, but Alvarez sees a different story unfolding. "Everyone's writing him off, but I don't know, man – this could go either way," Alvarez told MMA Junkie. "I saw a clip recently of Ilia's brother explaining to Ilia how to beat Justin, his tactics of what he would do against a guy like Justin, and it was scary of how spot-on he was."

So what's the secret to evening the odds? According to Alvarez, it all comes down to discipline and keeping your eyes on the prize—literally. "Justin loses his eyes a little bit, and I don't like that," Alvarez explained. "In the exchanges you'll see him look and throw this way. He can't lose his eyes during this match, because what Ilia does, is Ilia keeps such a beautiful posture that his posture is so beautiful that he's always ready to strike, and he doesn't lose his eyes ever."

The former UFC and Bellator champion broke down the tactical adjustments Gaethje needs to make. "Justin does this hard cover, and he can't do that. He cannot hard cover. He has to punch with Ilia. When Ilia goes to exchange, Justin has to go in. He has to take that risk. That's a risk that both guys are going to have to take to win and score a knockout here."

For fight fans and gear enthusiasts alike, this matchup is a masterclass in contrasting styles. Gaethje's relentless pressure and devastating leg kicks have made him a fan favorite, but Topuria's technical precision and unblemished record present a puzzle that few have solved. Alvarez believes the key is simple: "Justin can't hard cover or decide he's going to out-move Ilia and keep angles. It's just not going to happen. They're both going to have to throw-on-throw. When Ilia goes, Justin is going to have to go with him in order to score a knockout. And Ilia the same. We're going to see who gets it."

Whether you're backing "The Highlight" or riding with Topuria, one thing is certain—this lightweight showdown has all the makings of a classic. And if anyone knows what it takes to beat Gaethje, it's the man who did it first.