Topuria suffers bilateral orbital fractures after corner stoppage loss to Gaethje at UFC White House

Ilia Topuria left UFC White House on Sunday not only without the lightweight title but with non-displaced fractures in both orbital bones, Spanish outlet Marca reported on Tuesday. The Georgian-Spanish fighter’s corner stopped the bout at the end of Round 4, handing him the first defeat of his professional career and surrendering the 155-pound belt to Justin Gaethje.

Topuria was discharged from hospital without requiring surgery, but no timetable has been set for his return. The injuries place serious doubt over any prospect of him competing again in 2026.

The damage was visible throughout the closing rounds of the fight. Topuria revealed in a post-fight statement that Gaethje had compromised his vision in his right eye as early as the first round and his left eye by the end of the second, yet he continued until his team intervened. “You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too,” Topuria wrote. “No excuses.”

Heading into the contest, Topuria stood at 17-0 and was a heavy favourite. He had claimed the lightweight title just months earlier with a highlight-reel knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025, and had previously held the featherweight belt — stopping Alexander Volkanovski to win it and finishing Max Holloway in his sole defence.

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, drew Topuria into an extended striking exchange that played to his strengths. Topuria threatened in the second round, staggering Gaethje with body shots, but “The Highlight” absorbed the punishment and steadily accumulated damage on his opponent over the following rounds until the corner intervention.

In his social media statement, Topuria praised Gaethje and made clear a rematch is his priority. “I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous,” he wrote. “This story between us is far from over. We will have our rematch.”

Whether the UFC moves to set up an immediate rematch or allows Gaethje to make a first title defence against another contender will likely depend on the medical clearance Topuria receives over the coming weeks.