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Gaethje makes Topuria quit, Gane dispatches Poatan clinically

rugby15 June 2026 06:56| © Backpage TXT
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In what will be remembered as one of the most iconic fight cards in MMA history, the UFC Freedom 250 event thrilled fans on the White House lawn as Justin Gaethje powered his way through Ilia Topuria to become the UFC Lightweight champion, while Ciryl Gane claimed the Heavyweight interim title.

Deemed an early Fight of the Year contender, Gaethje finally conquered the Lightweight division through an enthralling contest with Topuria, who quit on his stool during the Round four break.

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— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 15, 2026

Both fighters had their moments early on, particularly when Topuria dropped Gaethje with a thudding body shot in Round two. While Gaethje managed to recover, ‘The Highlight’ came to life in Round three as he battered Topuria’s face with endless strikes, including an incisive one-two that dropped El Matador.

Topuria then found himself on the end of a doctor's check in Round three as he complained about poor eyesight, however, the medical team cleared the fighter, and the two went to work with Gaethje ending the round with damaging uppercuts and hard knee kicks to the ribs.

It was in Round four where Topuria found himself in a compromised position as Gaethje chopped his opponent with a vicious knee to the body before landing a couple of rights to the same spot. After being summoned to his stool at the end of the Round, Topuria eventually called it quits while Gaethje was declared the winner.

Speaking after the fight, Gaethje expressed that he put himself in a position to prepare optimally for the fight before brushing off any talks of hanging up his gloves.

“I told myself I was going to lose, I told myself I was going to get embarrassed so that I can go to my most primal place so that I can dig deep,” the champion said.

“I had to, that guy had me in trouble. He rocked my chin, smoked my liver and I stuck in it. Look at my face, I got some thick skin I tell you this. Something’s wrong with my face, it needs to be studied.

“I promised my mom that I won’t make a decision tonight [regarding retirement].”

In the Co-main event, Gane became the UFC Heavyweight interim champion for the second time in his career following a knockout win over Pereira, who previously bagged the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight crown.

Gane dropped Poatan with a stiff jab in the second round and followed through with heavy elbows and punching combinations. Already out of soughts, Poatan got back to his feet but his recovery was short lived after Gane unleashed a series of unanswered strikes before landing a left that prompted the referee to call off the fight in the second Round.

As a fighter who dared to dream by becoming the first to claim belts in three weight classes, Peirera expressed that he will assess his options before returning to the octagon.

"This was the risk," Pereira said. "If I hadn't taken a risk every time I fought, I wouldn't be where I am today. I don't know. We're going to sit down and look at it, the same way I lost at middleweight. I sat down with my team and figured it out. That's exactly what I'll do."

Elsewhere, Sean O’Malley stopped Aiemann Zahabi's seven-fight win streak with a dramatic first round knockout, which included a left hand that dropped the French-Canadian followed by a right that put him down soon after he returned to his feet.

Josh Hokit continued his unbeaten run in the UFC in a knockout win over veteran Derrick Lewis owing to a Second round stoppage. Hokit pressed the gas pedal from the first buzzer and managed to buzz a tired Lewis with consecutive punches in the second to seal the deal.

UFC Freedom 250 Main Card results:

Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 4

Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira by TKO (strikes) at 1:27 of Round 2

Sean O’Malley defeated Aiemann Zahabi by KO (right hand) at 4:02 of Round 2

Josh Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis by TKO (strikes) at 4:09 of Round 2

Mauricio Ruffy defeated Michael Chandler by TKO (strikes) at 4:29 of Round 1

Bo Nickal defeated Kyle Daukaus by TKO (strikes) at 4:34 of Round 1

Diego Lopes defeated Steve Garcia by KO (strikes) at 2:42 of Round 2 

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