Ilia Topuria not only didn’t make true on his promise to knock out Justin Gaethje in the first round but he lost his UFC Lightweight Championship to him at UFC Freedom 250.
Gaethje took Topuria to the limit, wearing him down to the point that one of Topuria’s cornermen called the bout in the third round even though Topuria’s brother said they should finish it.
Gaethje said in an interview afterwards that he wasn’t sure if he would retire now or keep fighting.
At the start of round one, Gaethje worked his jabs and kicks early on. Gaethje hit an uppercut as he Topuria tried to take him down.
USA! USA! USA!
Gaethje bloodies Topuria right eye. Topuria lands some right hands to Gaethje. Gaethje’s uppercuts have the crowd cheering:
USA! USA!
They exchange a flurry of punches to end the round. Topuria targets Gaethje’s body with shots driving him back into the cage. A liver shot by Topuria takes Gaethje down. Topuria slaps on an arm bar and triangle on Gaethje.
Topuria claims he is having trouble seeing out of his right eye. A doctor is called over by Topuria’s team. The consultation takes about minute frustrating some fans and Gaethje’s team.
Topuria looks slower third round. A right hand takes him down to the mat.
USA! USA! USA!
Topuria does get back to his feet but his face is battered, bruised and bleeding. Gaethje continues to chip away at Topuria.
Topuria is off during the fourth. His energy is down. Gaethje just throws him down to mat, knees and punches him. An elbow busts open Gaethje. Right before the bell, Gaethje hits Topuria with a nasty knee to the ribs. Minutes later, the match is called and Gaethje is your new champion.
UFC Freedom 250 Results
Diego Lopes versus Steve Garcia
First One
Garcia spent a lot of the match blitzing Lopes with combos but seems hesitant.
Let’s go Lopes! Let’s go Lopes! Let’s go Lopes!
Lopes is backing up a lot letting Garcia advance.
10-9 Garcia
Second Round
Lopes still doesn’t seem to be leading the fight. Lopes’ jabs landing a lot. Lopes starts charging back. There is a wild exchange. Lopes lands a left hook, a right hand, a left hook knocks Garcia down. Lopes ground and pounds until the official calls it.
An amazing comeback for Lopes who threw caution to the wind and decided to go head to head against Garcia in the middle of the octagon. Once he did that, the fight was over.
Winner: Lopes by KO (punches) at 2 minutes and 42 seconds of Round 2.
Bo Nickal versus Kyle Daukaus
First One
Nickal just picks up Daukaus and slams him down hard to the canvass. Nickal lands some elbows as they battle on the mat. The side of Daukaus’ head is busted open. They remain on the mat. The cut opens up even more as Nickal lands some more elbows. The fighters are made to stand up.
Back on their feet, Daukaus lands a good jab. A big kick to the head from Nickal followed by a straight left and a right hand brings Daukaus down for the ground and pound. The ref calls for the stoppage!
Winner: Bo Nickal by KO (punches) at 4 minutes and 34 seconds in the first round.
Tyson Fury is introduced and comes down to the ring. He says Dana White has an announcement to make. He won’t talk details.
Maurício Ruffy versus Michael Chandler
Round One
Chandler is pressing Ruffy from the start. Ruffy responds with low kicks and a jab. Chandler grabs at a leg but doesn’t commit to the takedown, which becomes a theme of this fight.
A spinning back kick from Ruffy. A nice explosive right hand by Chandler hits hard. Ruffy lands a good jab. Ruffy backs Chandler in the cage for punches and a spinning heel kick that stuns him. Another spinning heel kick and a punch takes Chandler down, Ruffy lays in some uppercuts to finish Chandler off.
Winner: Maurício Ruffy by KO (punches) at 4 minutes and 29 seconds in the first round.
Derrick Lewis versus Josh Hokit
Josh Hokit comes out to Hulk Hogan’s Real American.
Round One
Hokit tries to get at Lewis after he is introduced. Hokit buzzes at Lewis with kick after kick, which is what he is relying on. He falls down after attempting a spin kick though. Lewis lands a shot to the ribs.
He fires back with a punch. Hokit takes Lewis down. He stands landing punches. Lewis cannot get up. Hokit lands shot after shot. Hokit takes him down again. An elbow busts Lewis open. Lewis has only landed one strike so far. Hokit clamps on an arm bar with twenty seconds left in the bout. The hold is brought to an end by the horn.
Round Two
Lewis misses a big kick and a punch. Hokit goes for the leg. Lewis nails him with angry punches.
Lewis! Lewis!
A number of shots backs Lewis to the cage. Lewis looked laboured. A bunch of punches staggers Lewis into the cage again. He takes punch after punch. Lewis misses punches as he stumbles around.
Lewis looks absolutely exhausted. He goes down after a flurry of punches. Hokit looked like he had the pedal to the metal the entire bout while Lewis was gassed so early on.
Winner: Josh Hokit by TKO (punches) at 4 minutes and 9 seconds in the second round.
Sean O’Malley versus Aiemann Zahabi
Zahabi is introduced by O Canada before his walkout theme.
The crowd boos Zahabi once he is introduced as coming from Montreal, Canada.
Round One
USA! USA! USA!
Zahabi stays out of O’Malley’s reach. Zahabi starts to push back a bit. The exchange punches with O’Malley relying on jabs and Zahabi his low kicks. O’Malley comes in close and gets tapped hard busting O’Malley’s nose up.
USA! USA! USA!
A left and right hand from O’Malley has Zahabi backing up near the end of the round.
Round Two
O’Malley comes up pushing Zahabi. Zahabi maneuvers back with some punches. A double jab takes Zahabi back. Zahabi counters with rushing inside, low kicks. It becomes a battle of low kicks and jabs. Zahabi has landed 22 out of 25 leg kicks so far.
O’Malley sends Zahabi to the canvass with a straight left punch and another shot to the head then walks off.
Winner: Sean O’Malley by TKO at 4 minutes and two seconds of the second round.
Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane – Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout
Round One
Pereira hits a high kick early on that shocks Gane and another seconds later. Gane lands a good jab as Pereira moves in. Gane lands a jab here and there. Gane attempts a takedown. Two right hands and a kick push Pereira back. A hook connects with Pereira’s jaw.
Pereira misses a roundhouse kick. Gane fires back. Pereira lands a high and low kick. Pereira clocks Gane before the bell rings.
Round Two
Pereira lands another high kick. A shot to the face knocks Pereira to the ground and it is elbow after elbow. Surprisingly, Pereira gets back up. Gane lands blow after blow driving Pereira into the cage. The official calls it.
Winner:..and new Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane by TKO at 1 minute and 27 seconds of round two.
Ilia Topuria (c) versus Justin Gaethje (ic) – UFC Lightweight Championship Unification Bout
Winner: …via corner stoppage, TKO at the end of the fourth round and new UFC Lightweight Champion, Justin Gaethje.
