Anthony Joshua warns fight game is 'not a joke' after brutal UFC upset

Anthony Joshua has warned that the brutal nature of combat sports is no laughing matter after watching Ilia Topuria’s shocking UFC defeat to Justin Gaethje on 18 June.

What happened in the UFC?

Ilia Topuria suffered a brutal stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje at the White House on 18 June, losing his UFC lightweight title in the fourth round. The fight left Topuria with severe facial damage, forcing him to retire on his stool before the final round. Gaethje, 37, finally claimed the belt after years of near-misses.

Why Anthony Joshua took notice

Joshua told Combat Evolved that Topuria’s beating made him rethink his own approach to fighting. “I stopped replying to people after that,” he said. “It’s not a joke. The fight game is so serious.” He added that Topuria’s pre-fight confidence-based on his recent wins over Gaethje’s former opponents-made the upset even more eye-opening.

What it means for AJ’s mindset

The 34-year-old said the fight reinforced his belief that combat sports demand total focus. “You saw his face, what he went through,” Joshua added. “It’s not fun and games.” His comments come ahead of his 25 July return to the ring in Saudi Arabia, his first fight since a December car crash in Nigeria killed two of his teammates.

What comes next for Anthony Joshua?

Joshua will face Kristian Prenga in a warm-up bout before his long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury. The all-British super-fight remains unsigned, but Wembley Stadium is the frontrunner to host it. Fury will fight Mariusz Wach in Thailand the night before Joshua’s bout.