Ilia Topuria was defending his UFC lightweight title at the White House on Sunday night but did not make it out of his corner for the fourth round06:09, 15 Jun 2026Updated 06:42, 15 Jun 2026Ilia Topuria quit on his stool after the fourth round as Justin Gaethje was crowned UFC lightweight champion at the White House.‌Topuria had been an odds-on favourite to retain his title against a man who had been a proverbial bridesmaid. But Gaethje hurt the Spaniard in the opening round, survived a punishing second session and then dominated the next two rounds, forcing the champion to quit before the final five minutes.‌Gaethje began the fight by pumping out his jab, but Topuria immediately started walking him down, answering with a low kick. Gaethje found early success in the opening exchanges with a sharp uppercut but allowed the champion back into the round.‌Topuria switched downstairs in the second round and winded Gaethje, dropping him before attempting first a triangle and then an armbar but the American somehow managed to escape.FOLLOW OUR FIGHTING FB PAGE! Latest boxing and MMA news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook pageAnd he dominated the third round with an uppercut giving him the advantage before capitalising on his successes. Topuria then looked as if he would retire on his stool but forced himself up before the doctor was called in.‌He was determined to wave off the contest but was convinced to allow it to continue. Topuria took advantage of the extra minute's rest to force himself back into the fight but failed to come out for the fifth and final stanza, sparking jubilant celebrations in the opposite corner.Nothing was going to stop Gaethje in his quest to become undisputed champion for the first time in his career. The American failed in his two previous attempts - a submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and a submission loss to Charles Oliveira two years later. The 37-year-old ate some hard body shots throughout the contest, particularly in the early rounds, but coach Trevor Wittman rallied his star man on, and Gaethje pulled off one of the biggest upsets in a long time.After managing to calm himself down a tad, Gaethje eventually had the undisputed lightweight title - as well as a special USA belt - wrapped around him. With his family by his side, the American was lost for words when reacting to his stunning victory on the South Lawn with the president watching.‌“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 told UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “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.”At 37, Gaethje has been involved in several wars of the years, with many wondering if he would call it quits. But the 'Highlight' refused to comment on his future, insisting a decision will be made in the near future.‌With American Gaethje winning with millions watching around the world, Trump was quick to enter the cage and congratulate the new king of the 155lb division. Trump - who was celebrating his 80th birthday - was seen sporting a white USA cap, and was quite simply lost for words by what he saw. As was UFC icon Daniel Cormier, who said: “It was like a movie man."As fireworks went off around the Washington Monument, tonight's showcase in the nation's capital could not have gone any better. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira failed in his quest to become a three-division champion after he was brutally knocked out by Ciryl Gane. The Brazilian was moving up from light-heavyweight but struggled with the Frenchman's power from the first bell. Gane will now take on undisputed champion Tom Aspinall before the end of the year.Elsewhere on the card, Sean O'Malley picked up his first finish in three years after knocking out Aiemann Zahabi. Josh Hokit kept his unbeaten record intact after rendering one of Trumps favourite fighters, Derrick Lewis, unconscious in the second round.Article continues below