Gaethje Beats Topuria via TKO, Stats, Prize Money & Highlights from UFC White House Freedom 250
Justin Gaethje capped off the UFC Freedom 250 card from the White House with a massive fourth-round TKO win over Ilia Topuria to become the UFC lightweight champion.
Gaethje was able to land some early jabs, but Topuria's hand speed advantage was obvious in the opening minutes. It didn't take long for the two to deliver a wild first round. Topuria landed some big blows, but Gaethje turned it into a slugfest.
Topuria continued to pour on the punishment in the second round. He ripped shots to the body with regularity and eventually sent Gaethje to the floor with one.
He hunted for a few different submissions to end the fight, but Gaethje was able to defend them.
The fight turned toward Gaethje in a major way in the third round. He landed a clean right hand that crumpled Topuria to the mat and Gaethje attempted to end the fight with a choke.
Gaethje wasn't able to end the fight in the ring, but he battered Topuria's face. The right hand swelled Topuria's face to the point that a doctor was brought in to evaluate him at the beginning of the fourth round.
The wild back and fourth continued into the championship rounds. Gaethje bludgeoned Topuria's face to the point that some analysts wondered if his corner should save him.
Instead, it was Topuria who made the decision to retire on his stool before the fifth round.
The upset hands Gaethje his first undisputed title in his UFC career. The 37-year-old was the "BMF" champion, an interim champion twice and a champion in World Series of Fighting before crossing over to the UFC.
However, the undisputed title had eluded him.
Now he can add UFC champion to a career ledger that has been marked with being one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport's history.
Gaethje credited the multiple title fights he has been involved with for preparing him to pull off the upset.
"All the experience I've had — I've fought for the belt three or four times, had a couple BMF championship fights — and experience is king when it comes to these situations," Gaethje said, per E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com . "The mistakes I've made in the past, I've learned from them. The times I've been perfect, I've learned from and take from those, but this is a whole different experience, a whole different fight. Each fight is so different."
Gaethje has alluded to retiring in 2027. This was likely his last opportunity to become an undisputed champion. Doing it against someone who was on a hot streak like Topuria on one of the most unique cards in UFC history is a legacy-changing moment.
