Former UFC lightweight king Ilia Topuria has broken his silence after suffering the first loss of his career in a savage White House war that left him hospitalised.
Just hours after being battered by new champ Justin Gaethje in Washington, the Spaniard took to social media to deliver a classy message that included praise for the man who ended both his unbeaten run and reign on top.
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Topuria’s statement came after an incredible main event at UFC Freedom 250, where Gaethje stormed back from a difficult second round to overwhelm the champ with punishing strikes.
The fight was eventually stopped by Topuria’s corner after the fourth round as the extent of the damage to El Matador’s face became just impossible to ignore.
The American had predicted a painful night for Topuria during fight week, and the ex-champ admitted that prediction was accurate.
“Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did,” Topuria posted on Instagram.
“You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too.
“No excuses. I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night.
“That’s the nature of this game. Glory and pain walk side by side. I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous.
“And trust me… this story between us is far from over. We will have our rematch.”
While Topuria has yet to reveal the full extent of his injuries, Spanish journalist Irati Prat of Marca reported that the former champ suffered a broken orbital bone.
“Good news from Washington: Ilia Topuria is doing well. He’s taking some rest,” Prat wrote on X.
“Update on this: pending the definitive results of the CT scan performed at the Washington hospital where he spent the night, Ilia does have a small orbital fracture, but there is NO need whatsoever for surgery.
“Rest time and that’s it. That’s what they’ve relayed to me.”
The humility of Topuria’s statement stood in huge contrast to his approach over the last few weeks.
Topuria came into the showdown overflowing with confidence, predicting another first-round highlight-reel finish and dismissed the danger posed by one of the most violent men in UFC history.
So certain was he of beating Gaethje that he even held a party in Washington on the eve of the fight – a tradition he has repeated in previous camps.
“Tomorrow, you will have someone representing you the way you deserve,” Topuria told friends, family and guests, including Oleksandr Usyk.
“It’s not a victory we have to earn, victory is already ours.”
THE PREDICTION THAT BACKFIRED
Gaethje couldn’t resist taking a swipe at Topuria’s pre-fight confidence after completing one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
The American had spent much of fight week listening to Topuria forecast an early KO, with the champ repeatedly saying he would make quick work of the 37-year-old.
“I am such a huge fan of this kid but where do you go from here?” Gaethje said after the event.
“It’s going to be a very tough climb back. I’ve never had the mindset he had. I never thought of myself as unbeatable or infallible.
“I said it from day one, I’m going to get knocked out with the way I fight, with how crazy this sport is.
“I don’t want to say anything bad about this guy. He was a world champion and I seized my opportunity to take it from him. But he is in the hospital right now and I’m not.”
Gaethje said he knew he had Topuria in strife after drawing blood in an early exchange.
“He’s such a pretty boy that he was so concerned about the blood immediately,” Gaethje said.
“I hit him with the uppercut, he’s bleeding and he started touching it over and over and over.
“He’s so f*cking dangerous. I don’t know how I stayed away from some of those shots. He definitely rocked me, but I just kept telling myself to trust my abilities, not be emotional.”
‘QUITNEY HOUSTON’: PIMBLETT SLAMS TOPURIA
One man who was particularly pleased to see Topuria pummeled on Monday was UFC star Paddy Pimblett, who delivered a brutal post-fight assessment.
Topuria and the English star have been trading barbs for years, although they have yet to square off in the Octagon.
Pimblett, who was beaten by Gaethje in his own recent title clash at UFC 324, wasted no time reacting on social media after the White House slobberknocker.
“The only thing you had to do was beat a 38-year-old coming off a five-round war with me… instead you quit on your stool like the little b*tch you are,” he posted on X.
“I’m a real fighter and went five rounds, you’re a little pretender chorizo! Congratulations @Justin_Gaethje rematch for undisputed?”
The Baddy also shared his live reaction during the fight, branding Topuria “Quitney Houston” as the damage piled up.
“We’ve never seen Ilia’s face look like this. He’s getting mashed up, lad. Justin just does this to people’s faces. You saw my face in Jan, my face was mashed up like you’ve never seen,” Pimblett said while watching it unfold.
As the fourth round wore on, Pimblett continued to sound off.
“You’re quitting Ilia, you little b*tch. You’re quitting, you can see it. Never faced any adversity in your life, lad, and now you’re facing it and you’re f*cking quitting like a little b*tch.
“I went five with him and f*cking kept biting down on my gumshield and swinging to the last bell.”
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PAYDAY FOR GAETHJE
If the undisputed lightweight title wasn’t enough, Gaethje also walked away from the White House event with the biggest bonus cheque in UFC history.
UFC boss Dana White confirmed after the event that Gaethje was awarded not only the Fight of the Night, but also a Performance of the Night bonus too.
For the White House card, the promotion boosted its post-fight bonuses, increasing Fight of the Night from the usual $100,000 to $400,000 and Performance of the Night from $100,000 to $425,000.
As a result, Gaethje pocketed an additional $825,000 (about $1.24 million AUD) on top of his fight purse. Not bad.
UFC lightweight star Arman Tsarukyan also reportedly cashed in on the result after allegedly placing a $1 million wager on Gaethje and joking he would buy the American a new truck if he won.
The Armenian was said to have collected a tidy $5.7 million (about $8.55 million AUD) from the bet, later posting on social media: “What colour do you want your truck?” directed at Gaethje.
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However, UFC fighters are prohibited from betting on fights, and when asked about the claim earlier in the week, Dana White said Tsarukyan was not involved.
“No. From what I heard, is that Arman didn’t [make the bet],” White said.
“It is one of his buddies that bet. One of his buddies bet $1 million on Gaethje.”