Militants brought fireworks to the South Lawn of the White House.
In a spectacular conclusion to UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday night, Justin Gaethje and Cyrille Gane returned home from Washington with championship gold. Gaethje secured the vacant interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira in the second round, while Gane, in a fiercely contested match, unified the lightweight titles against the previously undefeated Ilya Topuria after his corner threw in the towel after the fourth round.
Both title fights ended dramatically, showcasing all knockouts in the nation’s capital, with the presidential residence in the backdrop. The fighters made their entrance through a historic hallway, passing by portraits of each U.S. president.
The main event was a brutal affair, mirroring the gritty comeback the Knicks fans have become accustomed to in basketball playoffs.
“I’m from America. 250 years ago we were underdogs, and look at us now,” Gaethje remarked in the cage afterward.
Topuria began strong with a powerful right straight, but Gaethje quickly fought back, injuring Topuria’s right eyebrow in a tense opening round. As the match progressed, both fighters unleashed wild punches, with Topuria gaining some momentum despite Gaethje’s initial success.
Topuria shifted focus to body shots, making a noticeable impact by the middle of the second round, which resulted in a liver shot and a bloody nose for Gaethje. However, after taking a hard hit, Topuria found himself in a tough position, nearly locked in an armbar as Gaethje took control.
Gaethje, demonstrating his wrestling background, fought back in the third round with effective jabs, eventually landing a decisive overhand right that left Topuria reeling and covered in blood.
Topuria narrowly avoided a doctor’s stoppage due to a cut but found renewed energy early in the fourth. However, Gaethje countered effectively, unleashing more powerful strikes that left Topuria’s face battered. Eventually, Topuria’s corner decided he had taken too much punishment, awarding Gaethje the undisputed title, an achievement he had long sought.
“That was truly legendary,” Gaethje reflected.
In the co-main event, Gane dominated the first round with high volume, yet he couldn’t quite push Pereira into serious danger. Pereira remained patient, countered with strategic shots, and delivered a punishing right kick. The danger escalated in the second round when Gane knocked Pereira to the mat with a solid jab early, but Pereira fought back, absorbing blows that seemed to land in illegal zones.
Despite recovering, Pereira struggled to find his footing as Gane kept applying pressure, ultimately prompting the referee to halt the bout as Pereira stumbled, marking Gane’s rise as a two-time interim champion.
“I move well, I’m very technical, yet people still underestimate me,” Gane stated after his victory halted Pereira’s quest to be the first three-division champion.
This win sets the stage for a potential unification fight with Tom Aspinall, who hasn’t competed since a no-contest against Gane due to injury.
The earlier fights of the evening were thrilling, adding excitement to a broadcast initially delayed by rain and concerns about thunderstorms. Only the main event exceeded the length of the second round.
Sean O’Malley scored a walk-off KO against Canada’s Ayeman Zahavi, while Bo Nickal, a former NCAA champion, secured a finish over Kyle Daukaus. In another bout, Josh Hokitt overwhelmed Derrick Lewis before the latter could withstand any further punishment.
Brazilians Mauricio Ruffy and Diego Lopez also claimed impressive victories over American foes Michael Chandler and Steve Garcia. Ruffy even took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend, who accepted with a thumbs-up.
Overall, the event was short yet filled with engaging action, aligning well with the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. While five of the seven matches showcased favorites, only two had outcomes that fairly matched their predicted odds.
