Gaethje stops Topuria at UFC White House card, ending his unbeaten run

Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC Freedom 250, an event staged on the White House South Lawn in Washington on 14 June 2026. The fight was part of celebrations ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, and President Donald Trump attended.

Topuria, the Spanish-Georgian fighter, entered as the reigning lightweight champion and unbeaten as a professional. Gaethje, a veteran American known for aggressive striking, won by stoppage in the fourth round and took the title. The result handed Topuria the first loss of his career, leaving his record at 17-1.

After the fight, UFC president Dana White said Topuria had been taken to hospital for an eye injury and suggested a possible broken orbital, while noting he was not a doctor. The loss was widely described as an upset, since Topuria had been seen as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters. It also raised questions about his next steps, including a possible rematch and how he would respond to his first defeat.