In mixed martial arts news, Justin Gaethje achieved his lifelong dream on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday night, earning a fourth-round stoppage win over Ilia Topuria to claim the UFC lightweight (155-pound) title when Topuria declined to continue. For boxing fans, the biggest news of the show were the hints that former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury may be headed to Zuffa Boxing, which like the UFC, is headed by Dana White. Fury told a UFC broadcaster: "I think I'm going to let Dana do the speaking but it is a massive announcement." White, was asked about this at the post-fight press conference and did not deny it, saying: "We'll make an announcement soon."

 

Back to MMA: Gaethje had a strong first round, landing the bigger shots of the two before Topuria rallied and nearly finished the interim champion in the second, hurting him to the body multiple times before chasing a series of submissions on the canvas. From there, however, Gaethje took control, battering the previously unbeaten Georgian with heavy shots that left him an absolute bloody, swollen mess The doctor checked on Topuria before the fourth and he was allowed to continue, but when he returned to his corner following the round, the bout was halted. Gaethje weathered a second-round storm and took the fight to Topuria from there. His ability to withstand punishment and continue to push forward is unmatched and uncanny, and now, he’s the UFC lightweight champion.

 

Ciryl Gane is once again the interim UFC heavyweight champion, finishing Alex Pereira amidst a torrent of strikes early in the second round. In the opening round, the speed and diversity of Gane kept Pereira off rhythm and unable to get anything going beyond a smattering of low kicks, while the French heavyweight sored with the much cleaner shots. Straight out of the corner to start round two, Gane took the fight to Pereira, hurting him with a jab and then staying on the gas until he was finally able to secure the finish. Gane's should set up a rematch with undisputed champion Tom Aspinall whenever the Brit is ready to return to action.

 

Sean O'Malley ended Aiemann Zahabi's seven-fight winning streak in dramatic fashion, hitting a walk-off knockout to punctuate the final non-title fight of the night at UFC Freedom 250. The former champion got the better of the striking exchanges in the first, but neither man did much significant damage. In the second, Zahabi focused on landing low kicks while O’Malley started touching him with heavier shots, and a little more than a minute after the midway point of a round, a left hand sent the French-Canadian to the canvas. When Zahabi got to his feet, O’Malley landed a right hand on his jaw that put him down again and halted the action.