Gaethje dethrones Topuria for lightweight title at White House UFC event

Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by corner stoppage after four rounds in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 on June 20, 2026, at the White House, winning the UFC lightweight title. Gaethje outslugged the former champion in a back-and-forth fight that ended when Topuria quit on his stool. The victory marked Gaethje's first UFC title.

Gaethje said during a taped interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience" released Saturday that he is planning to fight again. "Right now, I'm planning on it," he said. " Gaethje stated he will not fight Topuria again.

"He can try but he doesn't get one," Gaethje said. "I stopped him twice, what else do I have to f---ing do? His next challenge can't be me. " Gaethje said he has no particular fighter in mind for his next bout, including Arman Tsarukyan.

"I can't say that I have a name," he said. Charles Oliveira is ranked No. 4 in the ESPN lightweight divisional rankings and has no fight booked for the remainder of 2026. Arman Tsarukyan is ranked No.

3 behind Gaethje and Topuria. Conor McGregor and Max Holloway are scheduled to fight in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, 2026. Holloway knocked out Gaethje for the "BMF" title at UFC 300 in 2024 with one second remaining in the fight.

Gaethje is the current UFC lightweight champion as of June 21, 2026.