Justin Gaethje has never shied away from a tough fight, and as he prepares to step into the Octagon against undefeated champion Ilia Topuria, "The Highlight" is already ranking this matchup among the most daunting of his storied career.

Gaethje (27-5) will look to unify the lightweight title when he faces Topuria (17-0) at UFC White House on June 14. Topuria enters the bout on a blistering knockout streak, having dismantled a who's who of elite fighters—Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira all fell to his power. But Gaethje, who has built his legacy by battling lightweight legends, believes he's faced an even more formidable challenge.

"I think he is my second toughest test ever, next to Khabib," Gaethje said, giving Topuria his due respect while placing the undefeated champion behind only the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov on his personal list of toughest opponents. It's high praise from a fighter who has shared the cage with some of the sport's most feared names, and it underscores the magnitude of the upcoming title unification bout.