Ilia Topuria has released a candid statement following his shock defeat to Justin Gaethje at the UFC's White House card on Sunday, admitting the American kept his promise to leave a lasting mark. The 29-year-old Spaniard-Georgian retired on his stool between the fourth and fifth rounds, surrendering his undefeated record and the UFC lightweight championship in the process.
Writing on Instagram, Topuria revealed the extent of the damage inflicted by Gaethje, 37. 'Justin, congratulations. You said you'd leave your mark on my face… and you did. You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too,' he wrote. 'No excuses. I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night.'
The bout, staged on the South Lawn as part of US Independence Day celebrations and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, saw Gaethje claim the undisputed title at the third time of asking. The fight was a brutal back-and-forth affair, with Topuria's face badly swollen from the early rounds. A ringside doctor considered stopping the contest after round three, but referee Marc Goddard opted to let it continue. Topuria was taken to a local hospital in Washington, DC, shortly after the fight ended.
UFC president Dana White confirmed Topuria's condition at the post-fight press conference. 'Ilia's in the hospital, he's busted up. I'm not a doctor, but his eye looked like he probably has a broken orbital,' White said. 'My plans for him are to go home and rest and recover and take his time. Tonight was a rough night for him. I'm not even thinking about him fighting again. I just want him to go home and relax and rest.'
Topuria, who entered the event as the UFC's pound-for-pound No 2 fighter, insisted the defeat is not the end of his story. '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 added.