Donald Trump receives fairytale ending to UFC White House spectacular as USA star Justin Gaethje stuns Ilia Topuria to win lightweight title
Justin Gaethje shocked the world at UFC Freedom 250, defeating Ilia Topuria to claim the undisputed lightweight championship on the South Lawn of the White House.
In one of the greatest lightweight title fights in UFC history, Gaethje outlasted the undefeated Georgian across four brutal rounds, leaving him bloodied and battered to pull off one of the most remarkable upsets the sport has ever seen.
The 37-year-old had been written off by almost everyone and yet, he leaves Washington as the undisputed champion after the fight was called off in round four.
The fight was held in front of a star-studded crowd at the White House, including Donald Trump, who was celebrating his 80th birthday – and it produced a night the President and everyone in attendance will not forget in a hurry.
Earlier in the evening, Ciryl Gane produced one of the biggest upsets of the night, knocking out Alex Pereira in the second round to claim the interim UFC heavyweight title.
Gane was the aggressor from the opening bell, landing good shots throughout a measured first round as Pereira appeared to ease himself into the contest.
A combination from the Brazilian late in the round offered the first sign that Pereira was beginning to find his range, after a fairly lacklustre opening five minutes.
However, it never came to anything. Gane came out in the second and never let Pereira settle, his pressure relentless and his punch volume overwhelming.
The killer blow came in the form of a brutal right jab that connected flush with Pereira’s chin. After a further barrage, referee Herb Dean had seen enough.
It was a performance that denied Pereira an unprecedented third divisional title and sets up a rematch with Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight title.
For Gane, long considered one of the division’s nearly-men, this changes everything.
More to follow…
