On a historic night at the footsteps of the U.S. capital, Justin Gaethje pulled off the ultimate American upset.
Despite being cast as a more than a 6-to-1 underdog, and despite being roundly dismissed as a lamb led to slaughter on the biggest stage in UFC history, Gaethje did the unthinkable, brutally stopping Ilia Topuria to capture the lightweight title Sunday on the White House’s South Lawn in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C.
Gaethje’s feat, considering the circumstances, is among the biggest upsets in UFC history. After a career littered with wars of attrition, the 37-year-old American was widely believed to be past his peak in January heading into an interim title bout against Paddy Pimblett. But Gaethje shined in that moment, and then did so in an even louder way Sunday, upsetting one of the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
After a brutal back-and-forth battle that left Topuria’s face bloodied and badly swollen, the now-former champ’s corner called an end to the contest between Rounds 4 and 5.
“Hey, I’m from America. Two hundred and fifty years ago we were way bigger than 6-to-1 dogs, and look at us thriving now,” an elated Gaethje shouted in victory.
“I know that was absolutely legendary, because I cannot believe it. Wow.”
As the most high-profile American on a card designed to ostensibly celebrate the 250th birthday of the country, Gaethje (28-5) carried the weight of the world on his shoulders heading into Sunday night. But within the bout’s opening minutes, it was clear he had a game plan that could potentially topple one of the sport’s most dangerous talents.
Gaethje consistently found an early home with his stiff jabs and hammering uppercuts, bloodying Topuria’s face in the opening round while keeping his Georgian-Spanish rival guessing with sporadic feints of takedown attempts. But Topuria (17-1) rallied back in Round 2, dropping Gaethje with a series of thunderous body shots that appeared to put the American challenger on the precipice of the end.
Topuria might’ve had it right there and then, however he opted to follow Gaethje to the ground, take mount position, and work for several unsuccessful submission attempts, ultimately allowing Gaethje to recover and ride out the round.
After collecting himself with a light-hearted moment on the stool, Gaethje stormed out for Round 3 like a man reborn, dropping Topuria with a monstrous combination and then repeatedly hurting Topuria again as the champ desperately tried to survive.
By the end of the frame, Topuria’s face was barely recognizable, and the fight appeared to nearly end there, as doctors spent an extra minute examining him between rounds.
After much debate, the fight was allowed to continue into Round 4, and both men came out of their corners throwing everything they had at one another. Yet it was Gaethje who repeatedly came out on top in their exchanges, connecting with thudding right hands, more uppercuts, and several big knees to the head and body, leaving Topuria sporting a full crimson mask by the end of the five-minute sprint.
Moments later, the bout was over — waved off by Topuria’s corner.
“I owed him that, because he hurt in my liver so bad,” Gaethje said of his vicious attacks.
“I knew I was going to have to get through the first round. His skills are unmatched when he’s fresh and I’m 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.”
“I told myself I was going to lose,” Gaethje added. “I told myself I was going to get embarrassed, so I can go to my most primal place and dig deep. And I had to, that guy had me in trouble. He had me rocked and he rocked my chin, smoked my liver, and I stuck in it.”
And with that, Gaethje penned not only the most unlikely of late-career chapters, but also one of the greatest results for an American fighter in MMA history.
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