By: Adam Hawthorne, Editor in Chief
Last Sunday night, history was made on the South Lawn of the White House. UFC Freedom 250, a huge event held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, delivered one of the biggest upsets in MMA history when Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria to claim the undisputed lightweight championship of the world.
Topuria entered the fight as one of the most feared fighters on the planet. The Georgian- born champion had never lost a professional bout, and coming in as a massive favorite, most people expected him to go on to become 18-0. He had previously knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira on his way to becoming a double champion, and the question heading into fight week was not really whether he would win, but how quickly. Gaethje, at 37 years old, was seen by most as a tough but outmatched opponent.
In what turned into a brutal back and forth war, Gaethje took everything Topuria had and kept coming forward. By the end of the fourth round, Topuria’s face was badly beaten and his corner had seen enough, calling an end to the contest before the fifth round could begin. Just like that, one of the sport’s most dominant champions had his first career loss, and an American underdog had climbed to the very top of the mountain.
“Nobody even gave Gaethje a chance going into the fight. Seeing him actually pull it off was unreal,” says Junior Laith Zagari.
“It was a true shock to many, as Topuria was considered the number one pound-for-pound fighter going in,” said Junior Shorbodoman De,”He did show immense grit though, asking for ‘uno mas,’ one more round, when his corner was trying to stop the fight.”
The location made the event so much more exciting. Thousands of fans packed the South Lawn while many thousands more watched on screens set up at the nearby Ellipse. It was the first time in UFC history that a card was held at the White House, and the event celebrated the 250th anniversary of the country in between fights.
For Gaethje, the win was a long time coming. He had spent years as the most entertaining fighter in the sport without ever winning the undisputed title. Nicknamed “The Highlight” for good reason, he has earned a post-fight bonus in virtually every single UFC appearance of his career. Sunday night was simply the loudest version of what he has always been, someone who shows up and fights with everything he has, every single time.
Topuria broke his silence the following day, posting a statement that earned him a lot of respect from fans. He acknowledged that Gaethje had taken the vision from one of his eyes as early as the first round and still refused to make excuses. “No excuses,” he wrote, adding that he plans to heal and return stronger. He also wrote that he is not worried, and there will definitely be a rematch between the two.
As for what comes next, the lightweight division is as loaded as ever. “Justin Gaethje surprised the world and finally became an undisputed champion, but there are many challengers, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, and a new Ilia Topuria with a whole new mindset,” De said.
Sunday night reminded UFC fans that crazy upsets still happen, even to the best. Gaethje earned every bit of the win, and moments like this make the sport even better.