Ilia Topuria Accuses Justin Gaethje of Foul Play After UFC Defeat
Ilia Topuria broke his silence on social media with a sharp accusation towards Justin Gaethje following his first career defeat in June. The Spanish-Georgian fighter entered the UFC Freedom 250 event as the favorite but faced a harsh setback against the American.
The fight was dominated by Gaethje, who inflicted severe damage on Topuria's face. By the third round, a powerful left-right combo had left Topuria badly bloodied, prompting doctors to recommend stopping the bout. Despite this, referee Marc Goddard allowed the fight to continue after questioning the doctor's concerns about Topuria's vision.
Eventually, Topuria's corner halted the match due to the injuries, handing Gaethje a TKO victory. After claiming the UFC lightweight title, Gaethje was celebrated in the Octagon by former USA President Donald Trump, marking both Trump's 80th birthday and the country's 250th anniversary.
Topuria suffered non-displaced fractures to both orbital bones, with his right eye sustaining the worst damage, raising concerns about future vulnerability. Still, he is cleared to fight again and voiced his readiness publicly.
Topuria’s Bold Statement on X
On the social platform X, Topuria posted for the first time since before the fight, announcing his medical clearance and firing a pointed remark at Gaethje:
"Final medical tests done. I’m back. To all the clowns who’ve been talking s*** and counting me out this whole time, here I am. Now let’s see who’s got the balls. Thanks to everyone for the support.Next time I’ll make sure they check Justin’s gloves so he doesn’t put anything weird on them. See you soon."
Gaethje responded quickly, dismissing the claim as a weak excuse and comparing it to Topuria’s poor performance in their fight:
"94 days and the best you could come up with is a lame excuse. As terrible as your last performance. Do better, kid."
Later, Gaethje addressed the allegation in a video on X, telling fans that such accusations were unbelievable and not how to earn a rematch:
"People don't believe that. I've done that to everybody's face that I fought. Am I willing to [rematch him]? I just beat the s*** out of him, of course I would. That's not the way to [try and get a rematch]."
Though Gaethje previously ruled out a rematch, this exchange suggests any chance of another fight between them is unlikely, leaving Topuria to look for new opponents.
