UFC White House: Justin Gaethje pulled off the biggest upset of his career Sunday night on the White House South Lawn. He was more than a 6-to-1 underdog. Most people thought he was just another older fighter about to get crushed by a younger champion. Instead, Gaethje stopped Ilia Topuria brutally and walked out as the new lightweight champion.
Gaethje, 37, had a clear game plan from the start. He landed stiff jabs and hard uppercuts early. He bloodied Topuria’s face in the first round. He also kept faking takedown attempts to keep the champion guessing.
Topuria came back hard in Round 2. He dropped Gaethje with heavy body shots. It looked like the end. But instead of finishing on the feet, Topuria followed Gaethje to the ground, took mount, and went for submissions. He didn’t get any. That let Gaethje recover and survive the round.
Between rounds, Gaethje sat on his stool and stayed loose – almost joking around. Then he came out for Round 3 like a different man. He dropped Topuria with a big combination. Then he kept hurting him again and again. By the end of the round, Topuria’s face was barely recognizable. Doctors spent an extra minute checking on him before letting the fight continue.
Round 4 was more of the same. Gaethje landed thudding right hands, more uppercuts, and big knees to the head and body. Topuria’s face was covered in blood. After the round ended, his corner waved the white flag.
What Gaethje said after the win the UFC White House card
“Hey, I’m from America. Two hundred and fifty years ago we were way bigger than 6-to-1 dogs, and look at us thriving now,” Gaethje shouted after winning.
He admitted he had to trick his own mind to get through it. “I told myself I was going to lose. I told myself I was going to get embarrassed, so I can go to my most primal place and dig deep. And I had to. That guy had me in trouble. He had me rocked and he rocked my chin, smoked my liver, and I stuck in it.”
He also gave credit to his body shots in return. “I owed him that, because he hurt my liver so bad.”
Gaethje is now 28-5. Topuria took his first loss, dropping to 17-1. On a night meant to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, an American delivered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
UFC Fighters React as Justin Gaethje Shocks Ilia Topuria With Stunning Upset Victory
Going into the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House South Lawn, the odds were heavily stacked against Justin Gaethje. He was a +400 underdog. Ilia Topuria was -550. Most people expected a blowout.
Instead, Gaethje won by corner stoppage after the fourth round in a brutal, bloody fight. Joe Rogan thinks Topuria may have suffered an orbital fracture. Nothing’s been confirmed yet. But other fighters have already weighed in on social media.
Arman Tsarukyan wrote on X: “So we’re giving extra minute to recover now lol?” Then after the fight ended: “Ilia ‘no mas’ Topuria” – a jab referencing the famous boxing moment when Roberto Durán quit.
Conor McGregor kept it short: “Aw ye!”
Jake Paul mocked Topuria first, comparing him to a dummy. Then he wrote: “Let’s go, America. Justin Gaethje is a beast. Lillia such a h–e for quitting on his stool.” He added: “Not even worth sparring that tiny boy.”
Jamahal Hill posted: “USA in this h–e. Congrats, JG made us all eat our words!!!” Then: “This is the best Justin has ever looked!!!”
Henry Cejudo wrote: “What a fight by Gaethje!!! Made the fight his and took Ilia to a place he was unfamiliar with.”
Jiri Prochazka kept it classy: “That fight was a beautiful story. Really inspirational performance from both. Congratulations to Justin.”
Fans Roast Ilia Topuria After Corner Stoppage Loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250
Justin Gaethje was the huge underdog. Most people expected Ilia Topuria to win easily. Instead, Gaethje beat him so badly that Topuria’s own corner stopped the fight after four rounds.
On the night before the fight, Topuria threw a big party with boxing star Oleksandr Usyk. Tyson Fury watched from cageside during the fight. But once the cage door closed, things went bad quickly.
The moment the broadcast showed Topuria staying on his stool, the internet let him have it.
One fan wrote: “What an embarrassment of a fighter.” Another said: “Quitting against 40 year old Gaethje. Quitting on the stool in front of the White House is insane. Ilia will never be an all time great.”
Others pointed out his pre-fight trash talk. “All that talk from Topuria just to quit on the stool. After all that talk Justin beat that ass and made him quit. What a punk.”
Some fans were just shocked at the damage. “Bro rearranged Ilia’s entire face, shit is nuts.” Another wrote: “Topuria might have two orbital eye fractures. Gaethje is scary.”
And a few were glad to see the arrogant champion humbled. “I was getting tired of Topuria and his arrogance,” one fan said.
FAQs
Q. Who won the UFC Freedom 250 main event?
A. Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by corner stoppage after the fourth round.
Q. What happened to Topuria during the fight?
A. Topuria absorbed heavy damage, especially to his face.
Q. What did Justin Gaethje say after winning?
A. Gaethje compared himself to a major underdog and said he had prepared mentally for adversity.
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