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Reuters

American Justin Gaethje turned the ⁠tables on ⁠Ilia Topuria to claim ⁠a shock win and take the undisputed lightweight UFC crown at Sunday’s “UFC Freedom 250” event on the gardens of the White House.
Gaethje provided an American victory to round off the night, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, inflicting a first loss on his Georgian-Spanish opponent when the fight was stopped in the fourth round.
The bout headlined ‌the ‌first professional sporting event to be hosted at the ‌White House, a key part of Trump’s ⁠celebrations of the nation’s 250th anniversary, with the two fighters beginning their walkouts from the Oval Office.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg, British boxer Tyson Fury, UK ambassador to the US Christian Turner, FBI director Kash Patel and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson were among the well-known faces in the crowd at the specially constructed Octagon.
The US president and UFC chief Dana White walked together from the Oval Office to the Blue Room Balcony to survey the arena.

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who had said he was not invited to fight because of opposition to Israel, was escorted away from the Ellipse area before the bill by US Park Police.
After Topuria edged a thrilling ‌first two rounds, Gaethje stunned the Spaniard with a crunching right hand before following it up with a brutal flurry of jabs that left his opponent’s face swollen and bloodied.
Topuria appeared to have trouble seeing and ⁠was checked by a doctor before continuing through the fourth, ‌but his corner threw in the towel before the final round.
“I cannot even believe it … I ‌knew I was going to have to get through ⁠the ⁠first round, his skills are unmatched when he’s fresh,” Gaethje said.
“But my durability, ‌my tenacity and my heart were going to carry me through.”
In the night’s other top fight, France’s Ciryl Gane defeated Brazil’s Alex Pereira in the second round to take the interim heavyweight title.
Pereira, a ‌former light heavyweight and middleweight champion, was looking to become the first UFC fighter to win titles in three divisions after stepping up to heavyweight.
Heavyweight Derrick Lewis, who was invited to fight on the bill by President Trump, suffered a second-round stoppage as former American footballer Josh Hokit floored him with a combination in the second round.
Sean O’Malley knocked out Canada’s Aieman Zahabi in the second round of their bantamweight fight, but there were knockout losses for fellow Americans Michael Chandler at lightweight and Steve Garcia (featherweight) against Brazilian duo Mauricio Ruffy and Diego Lopes.
Ruffy proposed to his girlfriend, who gave him a thumbs up, after the fight.
Bo Nickal, who won his middleweight clash with Kyle Daukaus in the first round, left the Octagon for a chat with Trump after his win.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: US’ Justin Gaethje shocks Ilia Topuria to win lightweight crown at White House event

US President Donald Trump (in white hat) congratulates Justin Gaethje after his win over Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title bout during UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Justin Gaethje (right) hit Ilia Toupruia with a flurry that left his opponent’s face swollen and bloodied. Photo: AP

From ‘human cockfighting’ to the White House, UFC marches into cultural mainstream

Seating and the fighting enclosure on the South Lawn of the White House for the UFC fights to be held on US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday on Sunday. Photo: AFP

UFC fighter and gym owner Ryan Hall says violence is “part of the magic”. Photo: AFP

Immunologist Josh Terao says martial arts gave him the drive to do his PhD. Photo: AFP

Pianist John Chen (left) says jujitsu “gives me more confidence in life”. Photo: AFP

Fifa World Cup: Sweden Premier League trio wipe floor with poor Tunisia

Sweden’s Yasin Ayari (second left) embarks on a celebratory run after his second goal. Photo: Reuters

Tunisia goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh fails to stop a shot from Sweden’s Mattias Svanberg (right). Photo: AP

Viktor Gyokeres consoles a disconsolate Hannibal Mejbri following Sweden’s annihilation of Tunisia. Photo: Reuters

Sport

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Bout headlined ‌’UFC Freedom 250’ held as key part of President Trump’s ⁠celebrations for his 80th birthday, nation’s 250th anniversary


Bout headlined ‌’UFC Freedom 250’ held as key part of President Trump’s ⁠celebrations for his 80th birthday, nation’s 250th anniversary.


UFC: US’ Justin Gaethje shocks Ilia Topuria to win lightweight crown at White House event

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Bout headlined ‌’UFC Freedom 250’ held as key part of President Trump’s ⁠celebrations for his 80th birthday, nation’s 250th anniversary

Bout headlined ‌’UFC Freedom 250’ held as key part of President Trump’s ⁠celebrations for his 80th birthday, nation’s 250th anniversary