UFC Makes History at White House with Gaethje and Gane Title Wins
Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- UFC held its first event at the White House, UFC 250 Freedom, celebrating Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
- Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria by knockout in the fourth round to win the lightweight title.
- Cyril Gane secured an interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira via TKO in the second round.
UFC made history by hosting its first-ever event at the White House's South Lawn in Washington D.C., dubbed UFC 250 Freedom. The event coincided with Donald Trump's 80th birthday and drew significant attention from the mixed martial arts world, featuring top stars from the organization.
The night was marked by significant upsets, most notably in the main event. Justin Gaethje delivered a career-defining performance, knocking out the previously undefeated Ilia Topuria in the fourth round. This victory not only ended Topuria's flawless record but also earned Gaethje his first undisputed title in the lightweight division, creating an iconic moment in UFC history.
Adding to the night's surprises, Ciryl Gane claimed the interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira via TKO in the second round. Gane dropped Pereira with a powerful right hand and followed up with a barrage of strikes, prompting the referee to stop the fight. This win solidifies Gane's status among the top heavyweights, having faced elite opponents like Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.
UFC 250 Freedom will be remembered not only for its unprecedented venue at the White House but also for the two major upsets that reshaped the landscape of two of the organization's most prominent divisions.
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.