![\"WASHINGTON,](\"https:\/\/platform.mmamania.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/110\/2026\/06\/gettyimages-2281632498.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Justin Gaethje strikes Ilia Topuria of Spain in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n
Fight Of The Year: Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje<\/p>\n
UFC Freedom 250 \u2014 June 14, 2026<\/p>\n
Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje headlined the historic<\/a> \u2014 and most-watched<\/a> \u2014 White House card<\/a> for a reason.<\/p>\n Everyone knew it had chaos written all over it.<\/p>\n If Gaethje is involved, any fight has the chance to turn into complete madness. Pair him with Topuria, who entered the fight as the UFC Lightweight champion and, in the eyes of many, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and it had all the ingredients for something special.<\/p>\n The first round was competitive, with many believing Gaethje did enough to take it. In the second, Topuria roared back and nearly finished \u201cThe Highlight\u201d with brutal body shots that dropped him and had the champion looking like he was about to take over.<\/p>\n But after that, it became the Gaethje show.<\/p>\n The MMA legend dug deep, flipped the momentum and started to beat the sh*t out of Topuria. Round by round, Gaethje broke down one of the most feared fighters on the planet until Topuria\u2019s corner finally stopped the fight before the fifth round (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n It was violent. It had drama. It had momentum swings. It had a historic setting. And best of all, Gaethje finally became the undisputed UFC champion after years of being one of the most beloved action fighters in the sport.<\/p>\n Here are a few honorable mentions:<\/p>\n There is no doubt that the Heavyweight division has been pretty rough for the past few years, so expectations for Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit were not exactly sky-high.<\/p>\n Well, they blew those expectations out of the water.<\/p>\n Blaydes and Hokit beat the life out of each other for three rounds in one of the most fast-paced Heavyweight fights in recent memory \u2014 and one of the best Heavyweight fights in UFC history.<\/p>\n Hokit became an instant star, Blaydes proved he is still game and not just a boring wrestler, and Miami was treated to an absolute war.<\/p>\n Flyweight champion Joshua Van defended his title for the first time against one of the toughest young contenders in the division, Tatsuro Taira, and it was awesome.<\/p>\n Van silenced his doubters, but it did not come easily.<\/p>\n Taira used his grappling to control Van early, and after the first round, it looked like UFC might be on its way to crowning its first Japanese champion.<\/p>\n Van took over, battered Taira and nearly finished him in the third round. Then, out of nowhere, Taira stormed back and won the fourth, adding even more drama to an already excellent title fight.<\/p>\n