Topuria vows rematch after Gaethje leaves him hospitalised and stripped of UFC lightweight title

Ilia Topuria suffered the first defeat of his professional career at UFC White House on Saturday, losing the lightweight championship to Justin Gaethje after his corner threw in the towel at the end of the fourth round. Topuria was taken directly to hospital following the contest and has since issued a statement on Instagram addressing the loss.

“Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did,” Topuria wrote. “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.”

Topuria made a strong start and came close to finishing Gaethje in the second round, but the American weathered the storm to survive to the bell. The momentum shifted dramatically in the third, when Gaethje dropped Topuria and inflicted enough damage around both eyes that the ringside physician came close to halting the contest.

The fight was allowed to continue and Topuria found a second wind, but Gaethje remained relentless in every exchange. In the closing seconds of the fourth round, Gaethje landed a heavy knee to Topuria’s ribs on the ground. The Georgian returned to his corner in visible distress and his coaches decided they had seen enough, stopping the fight to prevent further harm.

Topuria did not disclose the specific nature of his injuries but made clear his intentions once he is medically cleared to compete again.

“I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous,” he said. “And trust me… this story between us is far from over. We will have our rematch.”