Justin Gaethje has pulled off a career-defining upset to beat previously unbeaten superstar Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 – and the MMA world can’t believe what they watched.
Few gave the American much of a chance heading into the headliner on Monday afternoon (AETD), with his Spanish rival considered the #1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
But “The Highlight” flipped the script in Washington, surviving some brutal early punishment to earn a Round 4 TKO victory over Topuria after the champ’s corner threw in the towel.
The fight doctor almost stopped the fight at the end of Round 3, such was the damage to Topuria’s face.
“This is not how it’s supposed to be… this is crazy,” Daniel Cormier said in commentary.
After winning the interim lightweight title twice before, Gaethje finally claimed his very first undisputed UFC championship.
“One of the biggest upsets of all time!” posted fight reporter Adam Martin.
“Justin Gaethje just silenced everyone! He butchered Ilia Topuria so bad the doctor stops the fight after the 4th. Ilia’s face looked like a horror movie mask,” wrote commentator Wade Plemons.
“I have seen plenty of wild things in the UFC but never anything like THAT! Justin Gaethje is my favorite fighter ever,” posted TV host Jim Rome.
“Justin Gaethje. The most violent man in MMA history. Kill or be killed. One of a kind. Take a bow. He just became the first man to defeat Ilia Topuria! What a legend!” posted MMA reporter Chamatkar Sandhu.
Fight reporter Mike Bohn described the result as “an all-time UFC moment.”
Topuria entered the bout on one of the greatest winning runs in UFC history, with victories over Alex Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliviera.
He looked like he would add Gaethje’s name to that list on Monday, but he didn’t count on the American’s durability.
Fighters watching on were also stunned by the unlikely result and took to social media to comment.
“The Highlight! Just wow,” posted Max Holloway.
“Gaethje is taking Ilia to a place he’s never been. What a fight!” said former champ Henry Cejudo.
“Never count Justin out. Congratulations champ Justin Gaethje. You never let me down,” posted heavyweight legend Francis Ngannou.
“I’m so happy. Couldn’t happen to a better person. Best in the world,” wrote UFC fighter Dan Ige.
Gaethje almost flips into trouble! | 00:22
“WTF,” wrote Renato Moicano.
Jake Paul, who has been involved with a war of words with Topuria, fired a shot at the Spaniard for “quitting”.
MMA superstar Conor McGregor also believes the champ quit, posting: “He quit himself. Sad to see. He earned a nice stripe however tainted, he will get stronger from this beating. What a sport!”