'Busted up' Ilia Topuria demands Justin Gaethje rematch after suffering orbital fracture in defeat at UFC Freedom 250
Updated 16/06/2026 at 17:40 GMT+1
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Ilia Topuria has congratulated UFC Freedom 250 main event winner Justin Gaethje before demanding a rematch from his conqueror in a post on social media.
Highlights: Gaethje stuns Topuria to claim undisputed lightweight title at UFC White House event
Video credit: TNT Sports
Topuria could be out of action for several months after suffering an orbital fracture, which Spanish media have reported as being "small" and unlikely to require surgery.
'El Matador' lost his unbeaten record and undisputed lightweight title belt to Gaethje on Sunday night at the White House.
The fight was stopped at the end of the fourth round with Topuria bloodied and bruised and there will be no rematch in the near future for the Georgian-Spanish fighter.
But Topuria is determined to eventually go again against the American, adding that his opponent took the sight from both his eyes by the end of round two.
"Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did," began Topuria's Instagram post.
"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."
"He's in the hospital. He's busted up," said UFC president Dana White shortly after the bout. "I'm not a doctor, but his eye appeared to have suffered a likely orbital fracture. I don't know, that's not a fact, but I'm assuming.
"My plan for him is to go home and rest, to take his time. Tonight was a rough night for him. I just want to make sure he's healthy and good, and not even think about him fighting again. I just want him to go home, relax, rest, and heal."
Topuria did not speak to the press in the aftermath of the fight, watched on by US President Donald Trump.
Instead, the 29-year-old was helped away from the Octagon by his team, including brother Aleksandre.
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Watch: Every knockout from UFC Freedom 250 at the White House featuring Gaethje, Gane and O’Malley
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marca jounalist Irati Prat reported on Monday that Topuria did indeed suffer an orbital fracture, but that surgery was not needed, a claim confirmed by AS.
"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," wrote Prat on X.
"Rest time and that's it. That's what they've relayed to me."
Gaethje, meanwhile, celebrated an unexpected success as he became the new champion aged 37.
"I told myself I was going to lose, I told myself I was going to get embarrassed so that I can go to my most primal place and dig deep," he said in his post-fight interview.
"And I had to. That guy had me in trouble, he rocked my chin and smoked my liver, but I stuck in.
"Look at my face, I’ve got some thick-a** face, something’s wrong with me."
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He added: "I cannot even believe it. I knew I was going to have to get through the first round. His skills are unmatched when he’s fresh.
"[I knew] my durability, my tenacity, my heart will carry me through those first couple of rounds, and no one can outwork me in round three – especially the championship rounds four and five.
"I am made for this moment, this sport was made for me. I'm the most exciting guy that's ever been in this cage."
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