WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Spain’s Ilia Topuria checks her face throughout her UFC Light-weight Championship bout throughout the UFC Freedom 250 occasion on June 14, 2026 on the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, DC. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Ilya Topria is coming off a tricky loss on the UFC White Home, and it could be some time earlier than we see the previous two-division champion within the Octagon once more.
Spanish information website Marca reported on Tuesday that Topuria was launched from hospital with non-displaced fractures of each orbital bones after Sunday’s brutal stoppage-time loss to Justin Gaethje. This information comes as no shock to those that watched the sport. As a result of when the struggle stopped in Topuria’s nook on the finish of the fourth spherical, Topuria was badly bloodied and crushed on his option to dropping the 155-pound title to Gaethje.
Regardless of the harm, Topria reportedly doesn’t want surgical procedure. Nevertheless, no timetable for his return has been set, with the damage clearly placing the potential for additional video games in 2026 in jeopardy.
Heading into the UFC White Home, Topuria is undefeated at 17-0 and seeking to make his first protection of the light-weight title since profitable a highlight-reel KO of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025. “El Matador” additionally beforehand held the featherweight title, profitable the belt by KOing Alexander Volkanovski and wrapping up his solely title protection in opposition to Max Holloway. He had an enormous benefit in defeating Gaethje.
Nevertheless, Gaethje engaged Topria in a back-and-forth stand-up struggle, with Topria almost profitable within the second spherical when he shocked Gaethje with a punch to the physique. “The Spotlight” recovered and outplayed Topria, and finally the accrued harm compelled the group to throw within the towel, leaving Topria with severely impaired visibility.
Topria launched a press release on social media after the loss, praising Gaethje and vowing to struggle once more.
Congratulations, Justin. You stated you’d go away a mark on my face…and you probably did.
You took the imaginative and prescient out of my proper eye within the first spherical, and by the top of the second spherical you took the imaginative and prescient out of my left eye as properly.
There are not any excuses.
It was among the best camps of my life. I got here absolutely ready. Final evening was your evening.That is the character of this recreation. Glory and ache stroll aspect by aspect.
It should heal. I am going to take a break. And I am going to come again stronger, smarter, and extra harmful.
And consider me…this story between us is just not over but.
We’ll have a rematch.
