UFC Freedom 250 was hotly anticipated, or much maligned, depending on which side of the political spectrum you fell on ahead of Sunday’s historic fight card on the south lawn of the White House. For years, UFC CEO and President Dana White had opted to stay out of politics, but once Donald Trump, an early supporter of the UFC no matter how tenuously, entered the political fray, that began to change.

Suddenly, White was there, introducing Trump at the Republican National Convention. The relationship between the two seemed to grow, or at least become more public. During both his terms as President, Trump made very public appearances at UFC events. Pundits railed against this mix of political showmanship and sports, but Trump’s ties to the increasingly mainstream mixed martial arts promotion no doubt helped his image, which especially in recent times has taken something of a drubbing.

Then came word that the UFC was set to host the first-ever professional sporting event at the White House. Critics called it sportswashing, and they are most certainly correct. The entire affair, ostensibly to celebrate 250 candles on the great American birthday cake, reeked of political opportunism. Never more so than when the date of the event moved to Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. You might as well have dressed Dana White in a little white number and had him sing “Happy birthday, Mr. President” to start the show.

All that aside, however, the UFC Freedom 250 card was a brilliant production and an incredible night of fights. Had it been held anywhere but the White House, or even held there on anything but Trump’s own birthday, it would have had the feel of one of the old Fight for the Troops events (which the UFC, coincidentally, is in talks to resurrect). Only with a massive budget, against an incredible backdrop, and with bigger star power.

There are plenty of takeaways in the aftermath of UFC Freedom 250, from the uneven mainstream coverage of the card to Justin Gaethje’s movie-like ascension to the top of the lightweight mountain. Lots of ground to cover, only so many words to do it in, so let’s not waste any more with this ramble of an introduction.

Sorry Arman, Only One Move Makes Sense for Gaethje

It’s hard to feel too sorry for Arman Tsarukyan, always the bridesmaid, never the bride when it comes to UFC title fights. Since pulling out of a bout against then-lightweight champ Islam Makhachev in January 2025, Tsarukyan hasn’t been able to sniff a title shot. He was supposed to serve as the back-up fighter for the UFC Freedom 250 main event, but even that fell through; instead, Diego Lopes somehow weighed in twice in one day, in two entirely different weight classes, first for his featherweight fight with Steve Garcia, then for the main event, just in case.

No one, it seems, other than Tsarukyan himself and maybe his family, cares to see him in a title fight. There was mild interest in the Makhachev fight, mainly because they had met before, less for a match-up with Topuria, and Justin Gaethje? Unless you’re a purist and beholden to the rankings (which is justified in most cases), or a Topuria superfan, well, poor Tsarukyan may have to wait.

Then again, he brings it on himself, getting kicked off planes, sparking brawls, and removed from rival MMA events. That’s when he’s not busy headbutting opponents at weigh-ins.

Arman will have to wait. Because after beating Ilia Topuria into oblivion and dispatching him to hospital in the UFC Freedom 250 main event, Justin Gaethje brought up retirement talk. Specifically, he revealed that he would not make a decision about his fighting future on the night of the event, having made a promise to his mother not to do so.

When fighters start talking about retirement unprompted, you know the end is neigh. The question is whether or not Justin Gaethje returns for another fight or two. For years, Gaethje has counted his time left in the sport not by fights, but wars. He’s said he only had a few wars left, and his fight with Topuria very much was one. “The Highlight” came out without the extreme sort of damage Topuria was sporting, but he ate some hellacious body shots, and not a few blows landed upstairs. Lack of gore aside, Justin Gaethje is one step closer to MMA’s retirement home, and for good reason.

So, sorry Arman Tsarukyan, but if Gaethje does fight on, it will likely be for the last time, and that’s not the fight to make. Not even close.

There is, of course, the potential of a rematch with Topuria, and who wouldn’t want to see that? Yet despite the Spanish-Georgian fighter being undefeated prior to Sunday’s loss, despite him being a two-division champ, he was one-and-done at lightweight. No title defenses, and no real need for an immediate rematch. Ilia Topuria will fight for another title in the UFC, but it needn’t be right away.

There’s one fight, however, that makes all the sense in the world for Justin Gaethje, the most violent man in mixed martial arts. Gaethje is your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter, and he deserves one massive fight to go out on. And there’s a fight coming up that, whether it comes against either party, fits the bill: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway.

McGregor is the biggest name in MMA history. Holloway is the man who beat Gaethje in the dying seconds of their UFC 300 classic, a fight that may one day land itself in the UFC Hall of Fame, alongside both fighters and McGregor himself. No matter who wins at UFC 329 next month, Gaethje versus the victor is one of the biggest fights of 2026. Yet, Max and Conor are fighting at 170lbs. Max is expected to come back to lightweight. With McGregor, who knows, but it doesn’t matter. Gaethje doesn’t need to defend the belt at this point. He’s won interim gold twice, held the “BMF” title, and fought a who’s who of the lightweight roster. Lightweight, catchweight, 170, whatever.

It’s time for the UFC to get back to booking big fights. They struggled to get the right names on UFC Freedom 250, struggled with the Jon Jones situation. Gaethje saved their bacon by overcoming the odds when it mattered most and giving the UFC a crowning moment for an American in front of the White House. Now, give him the most massive farewell party possible.

Sean Strickland Didn’t Steal the Show, But Made His Presence Felt

According to UFC middleweight champ Sean Strickland, he was banned from UFC Freedom 250. To hear UFC CEO and President Dana White tell it, there was simply no room at the inn. Strickland may be right on a technicality, as his presence may not have passed muster with the White House itself, especially since he’s taken to calling Donald Trump a pedophile and criticizing his association with Israel and invasion of Iran.

Either way, Strickland was not supposed to be part of the White House card festivities this week, so of course he showed up. First, he crashed the ceremonial weigh-ins, hiding out in the crowd until his presence was revealed (literally unmasked) by a cop overly hung up on sticking to the book. No face coverings allowed, so let’s risk a near riot by having fans mob a reigning UFC champ.

Strickland had his fun, criticizing Trump publicly, landing a leg kick on a willing fan who likely had second thoughts after the fact, then fleeing the scene as fans chased him. Had he stopped there, it might all might have been forgotten, but Strickland is, well, Strickland, and likes to do Sean Strickland things. So, unable to secure a ticket for UFC Freedom 250’s fan fest and viewing at the Ellipse across from the White House, he crashed the party anyway.

This time, Strickland was escorted out by a small army of police officers and security team members. Though he initially claimed to be facing a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, it seems that won’t be the case. Still, Sean Strickland stole headlines all week. Were it not for the performances of Justin Gaethje and Ciryl Gane, he might have stolen the show outright. Either way, as unlikely as it seems, Strickland is a bigger star than ever in 2026.

The post UFC Freedom 250 Aftermath: Next Move for Gaethje, Hokit Winning in More Ways Than One appeared first on Cageside Press.

Justin Gaethje

What can you say about “The Highlight”? This will not be remembered as the biggest upset in UFC title fight history when it comes to the odds, but circumstances-wise, this has to be, at worst, top 5. The aura of invincibility that Ilia Topuria had coming in was akin to something like Thanos having every infinity stones and calling himself “inevitable.” I’m not sure we’ve someone who looked this unbeatable get dominated so badly since Ronda Rousey getting head kicked by Holly Holm. The delta between Topuria’s image before and after the fight is almost incomprehensible and truly a testament to Gaethje as an all-time great war horse.

As for what’s next, we will see whether or not the UFC will give Arman Tsarukyan the shot. But as far who is the most deserving, this isn’t even worth debating. Let’s just get it over with.

Gaethje’s next fight: Arman Tsarukyan

Ciryl Gane

Say what you will about Ciryl Gane’s seemingly infinite title shots, but there’s no doubt he made the most out of this one. He was widely considered undeserving of the shot against Aspinall, but it’s the fact he was winning that fight until the eye poke that got him this interim shot against legend and fan-favourite Alex Pereira. It used to be that Gane would be flustered under the bright lights, but not this time. He got it done and left no doubt, knocking out “Poatan” and punching his ticket for a rematch with the Englishman.

Gane’s next fight: Tom Aspinall

Sean O’Malley

After dropping back-to-back title fights to Merab Dvalishvili, it was unclear how Sean O’Malley’s confidence had been shaken up. It may not have been the most convincing victory of his career, but he did get the job done against Song Yadong in January. However, this walk-off KO paired with the celebration was vintage “Suga” Sean. It seems like the Petr Yan and Dvalishvili trilogy is on its way, but if it isn’t, then a Yan/O’Malley rematch practically books itself.

O’Malley’s next fight: Title shot

Josh Hokit

This fight didn’t deliver like the Curtis Blaydes one, but perhaps those expectations were unfair. At the very least, Hokit kept his undefeated record and earned himself another finish, as sloppy as this one may have been. His best hope is that Tom Aspinall will be out for a much longer time, to the point that they will either strip him or have Gane defend his interim belt. That would open up the door to Hokit fighting for a title. Until that happens, I don’t think anybody’s more deserving of yet another number one contender bout than Alexander Volkov.

Hokit’s next fight: Alexander Volkov

Mauricio Ruffy

Mauricio Ruffy was the biggest betting favourite on the card and he fought like it. He made short and easy work of Michael Chandler, picking him apart for the entire opening round on his way to a knockout win. If the UFC is looking to throw another older lightweight at Ruffy, they could definitely do worse than Dan Hooker. “The Hangman” is always looking to stand and bang and Ruffy would certainly oblige. However, if Max Holloway dispatches of Conor McGregor next month in the way that I believe he will, I would love to see the striking matchup between those two.

Ruffy’s next fight: Holloway/McGregor winner

Bo Nickal

While this was probably the least interesting bout on the card in terms of stakes, it was a great indicator of how the UFC still sees potential in Bo Nickal, even post-de Ridder loss. Kyle Daukaus had looked very good since getting cut and then coming back to the UFC and Nickal knocked out using his boxing, which must have been an encouraging sign. I still think the UFC should use a slower approach with him and match him up against more known, yet beatable names. I thought of the winner of Shara Magomedov vs Michel Pereira, but instead went with Edmen Shahbazyan, who fits that description to a tee.

Nickal’s next fight: Edmen Shahbazyan

Diego Lopes

After a relatively quiet first round by Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia’s standards, they both started to open up in the second and the Brazilian’s durability and power got him the edge. After a poor showing in the Volkanovski rematch, Lopes needed a good rebound performance. Ending Garcia’s seven-fight win streak via finish on a stage like this one will go a long way to restore his image. Knowing the bad blood between he and Yair Rodriguez, this fight is long overdue to main event a Fight Night card in Mexico or Brazil.

Lopes’ next fight: Yair Rodriguez

The post What’s Next: UFC Freedom 250 Winners appeared first on Cageside Press.

With everything, very much his career and his legacy, on the line, Gaethje put a beating on Ilia Topuria unlike “El Matador,” the that point undefeated, had ever seen.

It was a rough fight, another classic in a career comprised almost entirely of them, and as Gaethje noted following the event, “I wouldn’t recommend this to my enemy.”

“We are some of the toughest people on this earth. Mentally, physically, all the guys up here, all the guys that lost tonight,” Gaethje (28-5), newly crowned as the undisputed champ, stated. “And me specifically, I said it from day one, I’m a promoter’s wet dream. And I proved it tonight.”

He’s won two interim titles, the UFC’s symbolic “BMF” belt, and now holds undisputed gold, unifying the belt with his win over Topuria. Gaethje also holds 17 post-fight bonuses in 16 UFC fights, an unthinkable number. Yet he was also willing to give the devil, or at least Ilia Topuria, his due.

“He’s very good, my liver still hurts right now. Those body shots were crazy.” Asked what went wrong for the Spanish-Georgian fighter, “when he didn’t get the finish at the end of the second round, I think it really took his spirit,” Gaethje suggested. “I said it in the press conference leading up, he really backed himself into the corner saying he was going to be so dominant.”

Topuria had actually predicted a first-round finish, and had his best round in the second. He was able to mount Gaethje, and attempted several submissions by the end of the frame. It was all downhill from there, and Topuria’s spirit appeared broken between rounds, though Gaethje isn’t so sure.

“I never thought he was broken because he was so dangerous the whole time, but in the third round when I started landing those jabs, when he starting fighting on his back foot, I knew something was different.”

At 37, Gaethje is getting up there for the lightweight division. He’s said in the past that retirement would come down to the number of wars he’s in. He’s been in some of the UFC’s most memorable, but promised his mother he wouldn’t make any decisions about retirement on the night of the fight.

“I said I wouldn’t even talk about it to her, I promised her. So I’m going to enjoy this win,” he stated.

The trials and tribulations in Gaethje’s career, with title fight losses against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway, made Sunday night at the White House all the sweeter, he later allowed.

“Absolutely. I think those experiences are why I fought so perfect tonight. And then the Max Holloway knockout is what makes this win so much more special,” said Gaethje. “I was counted out so bad. 16 fights, I’ve been the underdog at least 11 or 12 times in the UFC. Every single fight almost. And I’m 9-2 as the underdog, so I love being in this position.”

Later, he’d point out that he’d predicted his performance “to be some like some miracle on ice stuff.”

“I’m so happy, so happy to put my country in such a good light. I’m from the middle of nowhere here, in Southeast Arizona. And yeah, I don’t know. America, f*ck yeah. Let’s go.”

Watch the full UFC Freedom 250 post-fight press conference above.

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The spectacle of spectacles, the most expensive show the UFC has ever produced, and one of the most anticipated fight cards of all time delivered and then some on the action front. If you could look past the political connotations of hosting a first-ever professional sporting event on the White House south lawn, on U.S. President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday no less, it was a wildly entertaining ride. Seven finishes in seven fights, but one man stole the show above all else: Justin Gaethje.

The most violent man in MMA history is known as “The Highlight” for a reason, but it wasn’t a highlight reel finish he earned on Sunday. Rather, in his lightweight title unification bout, Gaethje put a demoralizing beatdown on Ilia Topuria, an undefeated two-division champion who had boldly claimed ahead of the fight that he would stop the American within the first round.

That prediction did not come to pass, and it was Topuria leaving the first round visibly damaged. While he rallied in the second frame, the third round belonged to Gaethje, and the damage piled up even more in the fourth. By the time Gaethje had landed a massive knee to the ribs of Topuria at round’s end, the writing was on the wall. Already checked over by a doctor following the third frame, Topuria could not continue past the fourth. It went down, officially, as a corner stoppage. Unofficially, Justin Gaethje broke the previously undefeated “El Matador.”

For Gaethje, after failed attempts to claim undisputed gold against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, it’s the culmination of years of hard work. His career, from World Series of Fighting (a precursor to the PFL) champion to the UFC, where he twice won interim titles as well as the promotion’s symbolic “BMF” title, has been must-see television.

True to history, Gaethje even doubled up on bonus money at UFC Freedom 250. UFC CEO and President Dana White announced following the event that Topuria vs. Gaethje earned Fight of the Night, while the UFC’s newly crowned undisputed champion also claimed one of two Performance of the Night bonuses. It’s not the first time Justin Gaethje has doubled up on bonuses, but this time out, he pockets $825,000.

The lightweight star now has 17 post-fight bonuses in 16 UFC fights.

Ciryl Gane, who knocked out Alex Pereira in the heavyweight debut of “Poatan,” a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, earned the other Performance bonus.

Performance of the Night bonuses at the White House card were worth $425,000, while Fight of the Night earned $400,000, in a one-off upping of the bonuses thanks in part to corporate partnerships.

The remaining five winners on the card will take home $25,000 finishing bonuses. Those fighters are made up of Diego Lopes, Bo Nickal, Mauricio Ruffy, Josh Hokit, and Sean O’Malley. No fight went the distance on Sunday.

Update: Dana White initially said no finishing bonuses were awarded at the White House during Sunday’s post-fight press conference, but later corrected himself.

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Closing out those fights, lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje collided in the main event, the sort of pairing that felt like it could ignite a Fourth of July-sized powder keg.

Gaethje opened the UFC Freedom 250 main event with a jab, and followed it with a leg kick while Topuria kept his guard high and walked the American down. Topuria looked tight defensively and fired a leg kick of his own before connecting with a right hand off one of Gaethje’s. Justin fired a head kick that was blocked, then clinched up only to be pushed off immediately. Gaethje was mixing in uppercuts, and occasionally chased a leg, but from too far out. Topuria, meanwhile, was explosive when he did connect.

Two minutes in, Justin landed a jab, backing Topuria up. “El Matador” returned fire, but was bloodied. Both men were trading jabs, both landing them. A right hand connected for Gaethje. And another one. The next right hand by Gaethje had more on it, but didn’t land clean. Topuria’s did, and they traded for a moment, things getting a little wild. Topuria would hem Gaethje in along the fence late in the round, ripping the body and swinging. Gaethje would battle back late, and Ilia Topura’s Fight Week prediction of a first round knockout did not come to pass. Instead, Topuria left the round bloodied, though very much in the fight, especially in the back half of the round.

A right hand landed for Gaethje to open round two, while Topuria fired a leg kick. Topuria feigned going to the body; an exchange a minute in saw both men land, Ilia getting the better of it. Gaethje appeared to feint a jump knee and landed a solid right. Topuria, however, went back to the body, then fired a right hand. Topuria’s bodywork could prove to be a difference maker, and he went back to it, hurting Gaethje. A firefight broke out, and Topuria added an uppercut and body shot. Another shot to the body, as Gaethje covered up, saw the American go down! Topuria followed him, worked his way to mount, and briefly threatened with an arm-bar! He didn’t have that, and switched to a triangle. Then back to an arm-bar, but Gaethje survived, albeit with Topuria still on top, and mounting again.

Somehow, however improbable it may seem, Gaethje survived almost being finished in round two, making it out of the frame. A clear round for Topuria, after a closer opening stanza. In response, Gaethje clinched up at center early in round three. Nothing came of it, however. Gaethje fired a low kick, eating a shot from Topuria in return. Topuria’s output had slowed however.

The pair were now trading single strikes, with Gaethje leading the dance, working his jab. Moments later, Gaethje rocked Topuria! A jab, then a follow up blow toppled Ilia. Yet instead of firing punches Gaethje pounced on his opponent’s neck, giving Topuria a chance to recover. Gaethje fired a head kick which Topuria blocked. Gaethje landed a right, clinched up, and fired another right off the break. Topuria’s face looked like a package of ground beef. And moments later, final minute of the round, Gaethje had Topuria hurt again!

In the final minute, Gaethje fired a jump knee, clinching up after. The pair reversed along the fence, in a round that belonged to Justin Gaethje as clearly as the second belonged to Ilia Topuria.

Between rounds, Ilia Topuria’s corner called for the doctor, with Topuria overheard saying he couldn’t see out of his eye. Asked if he wanted to continue, Topuria said yes, but ref Marc Goddard cleared the cage and ordered the doctor to examine the fighter. He then appeared to shake his head like the fight was off, only to give Topuria a second eye exam and instead allow it to continue.

All of that gave Topuria more recovery time, though Gaethje of course had the same amount of time off. When they did get going, a right hand landed for Gaethje in the first 30 seconds of round four. He then landed a throw, and caught Topuria in a headlock on the way up. Coming out of that, another big blow from Gaethje. Topuria’s eye was swelling up, but he still managed to land a right hand flush on Justin. Topuria, despite all the damage, appeared to have found a second wind, but a Gaethje uppercut hurt him.

Late in the fourth, however, Topuria landed a trip. And despite all the work Gaethje had done, Topuria was able to mount. Luckily for Justin, he was able to roll to his knees and slip out the back door. Topuria then shot a labored takedown that was stuffed. Gaethje fired a big knee to the body while Topuria was on his hands and knees; Topuria was exhausted. And again, between rounds, it looked like Topuria was done, with brother Aleksandre urging him to fight on.

He didn’t, appearing to retire on the stool, though it was later announced as a corner stoppage. A shock end to a wildly entertaining main event.

#AndNew #UFCWhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/DSxjOdRQMA

— danawhite (@danawhite) June 15, 2026

After two previous attempts, Justin Gaethje is your undisputed UFC lightweight champion. Breaking Ilia Topuria in the process. Corner stoppage or no, Topuria was battered, bludgeoned and bloodied like we’ve never seen him before.

“I know that that was absolutely legendary, because I cannot even believe it,” Gaethje exclaimed following the UFC Freedom 250 main event, speaking with Joe Rogan. “This sport was made for me. I’ve shown you why I’m the most consistent, most exciting guy in this cage.”

Official Result: Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 4, 5:00

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None of those would truly matter come Fight Night save the aforementioned weather, as the forecast calling for rain and even possible thunderstorms had the chance to really throw a wrench in the works. But as Dana White exclaimed at Friday’s pre-fight press conference, they were going to be fighting on Sunday regardless of rain or snow.

That meant Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje would unify the promotion’s lightweight title. It meant Alex Pereira would finally make his move to heavyweight, an option that was often talked about in recent years. Ciryl Gane was the only thing standing in the way of “Poatan” doing the unthinkable and winning a title in a third weight class. Sure, it was an interim belt, with Tom Aspinall waiting in the wings (and on the outs with the company).

Sean O’Malley, set to face Aiemann Zahabi, was looking to work his way back to his old belt at bantamweight. The Canadian, however, had made it a habit of late to turn back former champs and challengers.

Of course, there was the card’s place as the first-ever professional sporting event to be held on the White House grounds and all the conflicting opinions that came with it to talk about. To keep on top of those and other storylines, tune in for the UFC Freedom 250 post-fight press conference above following the event.

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Join us for a special Fight Companion as we react live to the FINAL 4 bouts on the UFC Freedom 250 card, a historic event taking place at the White House featuring championship stakes, star power, and enough drama to keep the MMA world talking long after the final bell.

Whether you’re watching along with friends or looking for a place to celebrate victories and vent about scorecards, we’ve got you covered with live analysis, instant reactions, and plenty of laughs throughout the night. So settle in, jump in the chat, and experience one of the wildest nights in UFC history with the Cageside Press crew.

UFC Freedom 250

Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Justin Gaethje – UFC Lightweight Championship
Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship
Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi – Bantamweight Bout
Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis – Heavyweight Bout
Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler – Lightweight Bout
Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus – Middleweight Bout
Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia – Featherweight Bout

The historic UFC Freedom 250 card takes place June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC.

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Back when Sen. John McCain was calling MMA and the UFC “human cockfighting,” mixed martial arts struggled to find respect, and the UFC found difficulty securing venues. Donald Trump, with his Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, for one, was one of the safe havens for the promotion, at least for a brief period.

That sparked a relationship between UFC President (and now CEO) Dana White and future U.S. President Trump. And with Trump now serving out a second term in office, and the UFC a multi-billion dollar sports property, the tide has certainly turned.

What was once unthinkable is now very much reality, with the UFC having to honor of being the first-ever professional sporting event at the White House. Set for the White House lawn on Sunday, the likes of Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira, Sean O’Malley and Michael Chandler were all on hand. Just 14 fighters, seven fights in total, a rare opportunity for all involved to appear on what was expected to be one of the biggest cards in UFC history.

With the full card airing on Paramount+ in the U.S., there was no premium price tag, at least for U.S. fans. All the more reason to tune in.

The wait is over, and UFC Freedom 250, a.k.a. UFC White House, is finally here. Check below throughout the night for results from the event, and links to each fight’s individual recap. It all kicks off at 8PM ET, 5PM PT.

Update, 6:15 PM ET: Earlier this afternoon the UFC announced a change to the UFC Freedom 250 broadcast schedule. The broadcast now starts at 8PM, which was originally the go-time for the first fight. It’s unclear if the originally planned one-hour pre-show will still be held in its entirety.

Update, 8PM ET: Per UFC pre-show broadcast, shelter in place order will be given in the case of lightning strike within a six mile radius of the White House. That will end 30 mins after the last strike. Weather supposed to clear by 9PM ET. 

Update, 8:25PM ET: With the weather cooperating for the time being, the fights themselves are set to go, with Dana White and U.S. President Donald Trump walking out first.

UFC Freedom 250 Results

Justin Gaethje (ic) def. Ilia Topuria (c) by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 4, 5:00 – for the UFC lightweight championship / title unification bout
Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira by TKO, Round 2, 1:27 – for the vacant UFC interim heavyweight championship
Sean O’Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi by TKO, Round 2, 4:02
Josh Hokit def. Derrick Lewis by TKO, Round 2, 4:09
Mauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler by TKO, Round 1, 4:29
Bo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus by TKO, Round 1, 4:34
Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia by KO, Round 2, 2:42

The post UFC Freedom 250 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

On paper, it is an exciting bout no matter which way you imagine it going. The undefeated knockout artist Ilia Topuria takes on the heavy-handed Justin Gaethje in a bout that most expect will see heavy damage inflicted no matter how long it lasts.

But there’s more to the story when looking at their careers.

Topuria has only ever known success professionally. The undefeated Spaniard with a multicultural background entered the UFC in 2020 at 23 years-old following an 8-0 run that saw him claim the Cage Warriors and Mix Fight Events titles. Since then, he’s put a nine fight win-streak in the Octagon that is on par with anything any fighter has ever put together. By 2023, UFC CFO Hunter Campbell saw so much potential in Topuria that he personally flew to Spain to re-sign “El Matador” to a new contract.

El Matador can take the fight anywhere and finish it 🤯@TopuriaIlia makes his first title defense Saturday night at #UFC308

[ @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/Dh2kBfjuEp

— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2024

The rest, as they say, is history. Topuria won the title on the first fight of his new deal and stopped the legendary Alexander Volkanovski in the second round. How did he follow that up? With a third round knockout of longtime champion Max Holloway several months later. Most recently, he moved up to lightweight where he won the title there, this time needing less than a round to stop Charles Oliveira. Three future Hall of Famers in a row all dispatched by knockout. Some are saying it is the best three fight run by a fighter in UFC history.

If that wasn’t enough, many are already matchmaking for his future. A fight with fellow pound-for-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev or surging contender and budding Internet personality Arman Tsarukyan is already on the horizon should he be victorious at his latest seminal event.

For the challenger, excitement and his name have always gone hand-in-hand. Justin Gaethje was the gem of the former WSOF as he emerged as a budding star for the company back in 2013. Born in Arizona and now based out of Colorado, Gaethje was immediately pushed to the forefront when he signed with the UFC in 2016. He has lived up to his nickname “The Highlight” since then with performance bonuses in every single one of his victories, and even in some of those that did not go his way. He has delighted the fans and his peers alike with his style, being bestowed the moniker of “your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter” by many.

If there’s one thing missing from Gaethje’s career though, it is undisputed gold. He has twice won interim gold (including in his most recent fight) and is a previous winner of the BMF title belt. But in his two attempts to claim the full championship, he has come up short. Last year, he was vocal that he felt this title run would be his last and that he would consider walking away if he was not put in position to challenge for the belt. At 37 years-old, it would seem that he is in the final few pages of a supremely beloved UFC career. While his opponent has now enjoyed the summit on two mountains for some time now, Gaethje will be looking to finally bask in the peak for the first time.

WHAT A KNOCKOUT 😱@Justin_Gaethje looks to bring home the interim title at #UFC324!

[ SAT JAN 24 | 9pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/JBnmwjOxXg

— UFC (@ufc) January 19, 2026

If the road wasn’t winding enough, Gaethje also gets the distinction that he is the American in the final fight to take place on the White House lawn at the event billed in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. If that isn’t enough of a stage for a seminal moment then what is?

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While the card lacks the likes of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor (the latter of whom returns to action next month), it was unquestionably made better by the addition of Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis. Hokit’s Fight of the Year contender against Curtis Blaydes back in April has made him appointment television, after all.

The main event, meanwhile, feels like another potential Fight of the Year candidate. Go ahead, name a boring Justin Gaethje fight, we dare you. Now do the same for Ilia Topuria. Put them together, and you’ve almost certainly got a powder keg on your hands.

The co-main event, meanwhile, offers a chance for Alex “Poatan” Pereira to claim a title, albeit an interim one, in a third weight class. A feat never before accomplished in UFC history. Standing in Pereira’s way as he moves to heavyweight, a former interim champ himself in France’s Ciryl Gane, who is looking to get back to a rematch with Tom Aspinall after their first encounter ended early due to eye pokes.

Weigh-ins for UFC Freedom 250 take place Saturday, June 13, 2026 starting at 11AM ET, 8AM PT. Full results can be found below.

All fighters made weight for UFC Freedom 250, with Josh Hokit, as usual, making the weigh-ins a little weird with his act. This time out, Hokit appeared to spit up on himself, then said “So what, maybe I was drinking was night. Who wouldn’t be? I have a giant black man that wants to knock me out, he has the most knockouts in UFC history.”

All a game to Hokit, who is one of the most divisive figures in the sport at the moment, but whose success in the cage has been undeniable.

An unbelievable scene then followed: Diego Lopes weighed in a second time, in a second weight class, as the back-up for the lightweight main event. Lopes hit the scale at 154lbs, after weighing in an hour or so earlier at 146. Quite possibly the first time a UFC fighter has made weight successfully twice in one day for two different fights at two different weight classes.

On his second attempt, Lopes did have a shirt and hat on.

UFC Freedom 250 Weigh-In Results

Lightweight: Ilia Topuria (c) (155) vs. Justin Gaethje (ic) (155) – for the UFC lightweight championship / title unification bout
Heavyweight: Alex Pereira (251) vs. Ciryl Gane (248) – for the interim UFC heavyweight championship
Bantamweight: Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (135)
Heavyweight: Josh Hokit (231) vs. Derrick Lewis (265)
Lightweight: Maurício Ruffy (155) vs. Michael Chandler (156)
Middleweight: Bo Nickal (186) vs. Kyle Daukaus (186)
Featherweight: Diego Lopes (146) vs. Steve Garcia (146)

Lightweight: Diego Lopes (154) – weighed in a second time as the main event backup

The post UFC Freedom 250 Weigh-In Results: Lopes Hits the Scale Twice in One Day for Two Weight Classes appeared first on Cageside Press.