Gaethje shocks Topuria to win UFC lightweight title at White House event
Key takeaways
- In perhaps the biggest upset in UFC history, Gaethje becomes champion after Topuria’s corner stops fight.
- Topuria appeared to have trouble seeing and was checked by a doctor before continuing through the fourth, but his corner threw in the towel before the final round.
- “I cannot even believe it … I knew I was going to have to get through the first round, his skills are unmatched when he’s fresh,” Gaethje said.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
In perhaps the biggest upset in UFC history, Gaethje becomes champion after Topuria’s corner stops fight.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Ilia Toupruia, left, fights Justin Gaethje during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026American Justin Gaethje turned the tables on Ilia Topuria to claim a shock win and take the lightweight UFC crown at the “UFC Freedom 250” event on the lawns of the White House.
After Topuria (17-1) edged a thrilling first two rounds on Sunday night, Gaethje (28-5) stunned the Spaniard with a crunching right hand before following it up with a brutal flurry of jabs that left his opponent’s face swollen and bloodied.