UFC Freedom 250: Gaethje stops Topuria and becomes champion at historic White House event

The historic UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington delivered one of the most memorable nights in the promotion’s history. The show took place on the South Lawn of the White House and ended with a huge victory for Justin Gaethje over Ilia Topuria in the main event.

The biggest feature of the event was its incredible finishing rate: all seven fights ended inside the distance. The final statement came in the lightweight title bout, where Gaethje broke the resistance of the previously unbeaten Topuria and became the undisputed UFC champion.

Justin Gaethje defeats Ilia Topuria and wins the UFC title

In the main event of the evening, Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by technical knockout. The fight was stopped after the fourth round, as Topuria was unable to continue and did not come out for the fifth.

Gaethje started strongly and looked more dangerous in the exchanges during the opening round. In the second round, Topuria managed to change the momentum. He hurt his opponent several times with body shots and tried to build on that success on the ground, threatening with submission attempts.

However, Gaethje regained control after that. The American survived a difficult spell, kept moving forward and began to deal more and more damage. By the end of the fourth round, Topuria’s face was badly damaged and the fighter himself looked exhausted. After a discussion in the corner, the decision was made not to send him out for the fifth round.

For Gaethje, this victory became the biggest achievement of his career. He captured the UFC lightweight title and did so in one of the most unusual venues the promotion has ever used.

Ciryl Gane stops Alex Pereira

In the co-main event, Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira by second-round TKO and once again became the interim UFC heavyweight champion.

The Frenchman used his speed, footwork and variety from the opening minutes. Pereira tried to answer with low kicks, but he could not find his rhythm and was often a step behind. At the start of the second round, Gane hurt his opponent with a jab, kept up the pressure and secured the stoppage at 1:27.

Gane’s victory could now set up a rematch with reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Sean O’Malley knocks out Aiemann Zahabi

Former UFC champion Sean O’Malley returned to the win column in spectacular fashion, knocking out Aiemann Zahabi in the second round.

O’Malley acted cautiously in the first round, but in the second he began landing more often and with more power. First, he dropped Zahabi with a left hand. Then, when his opponent got back to his feet, O’Malley landed a clean right hand to the jaw. The referee stopped the fight at 4:02 of the second round.

The win ended Zahabi’s seven-fight winning streak and put O’Malley back among the leading contenders in the bantamweight division.

Josh Hokit batters Derrick Lewis

In the heavyweight division, Josh Hokit claimed the biggest win of his career, defeating Derrick Lewis by second-round TKO.

Hokit looked faster and fresher from the opening seconds. He avoided Lewis’ heavy swings, took the fight to the ground and dealt serious damage. In the second round, Lewis looked visibly tired, and Hokit took advantage of it. He increased the pressure and forced the stoppage.

It was Hokit’s fourth straight UFC victory. He preserved his perfect 10-0 record and moved closer to becoming one of the most exciting prospects in the heavyweight division.

Mauricio Ruffy finishes Michael Chandler early

Brazilian lightweight Mauricio Ruffy defeated Michael Chandler by first-round TKO.

Ruffy did not rush his work. He carefully read his opponent and gradually found the right range. Once the Brazilian sensed the moment, he began landing heavy shots. An uppercut badly hurt Chandler, then came spinning kicks and a finishing sequence that forced the stoppage with 31 seconds left in the first round.

Ruffy earned his second stoppage win of the year and improved his overall record to 14-2. Chandler, meanwhile, suffered his fourth consecutive defeat.

Bo Nickal finishes Kyle Daukaus

Unbeaten middleweight Bo Nickal defeated Kyle Daukaus by first-round TKO.

Nickal quickly took the fight to the canvas and controlled his opponent from top position, opening a cut on Daukaus’ forehead. After the fight returned to the feet, he landed a right hook, followed it up with a left hand and finished Daukaus on the ground with elbows and punches.

This was one of the most convincing performances of Nickal’s career and could move him closer to fights against top-15 opponents in the middleweight division.

Diego Lopes knocks out Steve Garcia

The event opened with an exciting bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia. Garcia had the better start and even dropped Lopes in the second round, but the Brazilian managed to dramatically change the course of the fight.

Lopes stepped into the fire, started landing combinations and eventually earned the knockout at 2:42 of the second round. His win set the tone for the entire event, which finished without a single judges’ decision.

Full UFC Freedom 250 results

UFC Freedom 250 main card

• Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by TKO — corner stoppage after Round 4
• Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira by TKO — Round 2, 1:27
• Sean O’Malley defeated Aiemann Zahabi by KO — Round 2, 4:02
• Josh Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis by TKO — Round 2, 4:09
• Mauricio Ruffy defeated Michael Chandler by TKO — Round 1, 4:29
• Bo Nickal defeated Kyle Daukaus by TKO — Round 1, 4:34
• Diego Lopes defeated Steve Garcia by KO — Round 2, 2:42

UFC Freedom 250 will go down in history not only because of its venue, but also because of its entertainment value. The event on the White House lawn became a rare night in which every fight ended inside the distance, while the main event gave the UFC a new lightweight champion — Justin Gaethje.