Georgian MMA star Ilia Topuria suffered the first defeat of his professional career after losing to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250, a historic tournament staged on the grounds of the White House.
The event was organized to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. For the occasion, a special octagon was installed in the White House courtyard, where approximately 4,000 spectators gathered to witness what UFC described as one of the most ambitious events in the promotion’s history.
Among those in attendance were US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and UFC President Dana White.
The lightweight championship bout between Topuria and Gaethje served as the headline event of the evening. The contest lasted four rounds, but the fifth round never began after Topuria’s corner stopped the fight due to injuries sustained during the bout, handing Gaethje the victory and allowing the American to retain the UFC lightweight title.
Prior to the defeat, Topuria had maintained a perfect professional record, winning 17 consecutive mixed martial arts contests. The Georgian fighter is one of only 11 athletes in UFC history to have captured championship belts in two different weight classes.
Topuria first became UFC featherweight champion in February 2024 before moving up in weight and claiming the lightweight title in June 2025. The loss to Gaethje marks the end of his unbeaten run and the first setback of his MMA career.
