UFC: Gaethje dethrones Topuria for lightweight title

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Justin Gaethje scored his most notable MMA win after dethroning Ilia Topuria via technical knockout (TKO) in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 on June 15, 2026, at the White House South Lawn in Washington, D.C.

With the massive upset victory, Gaethje handed Topuria his first UFC defeat, snapping his 17-fight winning streak while becoming the new undisputed lightweight champion.

After absorbing brutal punishment from the get-go, Topuria’s corner put an end to its fighter’s misery between the fourth and fifth rounds by throwing in the towel.

Gaethje came out smoking hot from the opening bell, stunning Topuria with a pair of heavy jabs followed by a series of straight right punches.

Surprisingly, Topuria stayed in the middle of the Octagon and attempted to fight toe-to-toe with Gaethje without any angle adjustments or defensive head movement.

Gaethje made Topuria pay with more 1-2 combinations at the end of the opening round while also boosting his confidence with a snappy right hook with only 13 seconds left.

Just when Gaethje thought he could dictate the pace once more, Topuria flipped the switch, utilizing body shots to perfection, which slowed down the American fighter momentarily.

Topuria officially evened the scorecards with a massive response in the second round as he floored Gaethje, who struggled to keep up with the Spaniard’s punching power for five straight minutes.

The next two rounds featured unusual momentum swings as Gaethje pounced on Topuria quickly in the third round, banking on a combination of efficient stand-up striking and takedowns.

With only two minutes remaining in the third round, Gaethje brought the crowd to its feet after tagging Topuria with a vicious right hand.

Fortunately for Topuria, he survived the final minute of the period by backpedaling away from danger.

The next round featured another one-sided affair in favor of Gaethje, as Topuria’s face was completely battered from a barrage of left hooks and hammer fists.

As the fifth round was about to start, the referee waved both hands, confirming that Topuria’s corner had already called off the match.

“I promised my mom I wouldn’t make a decision tonight,” Gaethje said after the win.

“His skills are unmatched when he’s fresh. But my durability, my tenacity, and my heart will carry me through those first couple rounds, and nobody can outwork me in Round 3 and especially the championship rounds.”