Ilia Topuria Issues First Statement After Shocking Loss at UFC Freedom 250, Demands a Rematch

Former lightweight champion Ilia Topuria breaks his silence after suffering his first MMA loss at the White House against Justin Gaethje.

Ilia Topuria Issues First Statement After Shocking Loss at UFC Freedom 250, Demands a Rematch

Ilia Topuria releases his first statement since UFC Freedom 250 [via TalkSPORT]

Ilia Topuria suffered a stunning defeat to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250. His first-ever MMA loss ended his reign as the lightweight champ. Less than a day after the event, the former lightweight champion has finally broken his silence.

Early on in Sunday’s fight, it appeared as though the Spaniard was on course to retain his belt. After a close opening round, ‘El Matador’ dropped Gaethje in the second round. Nonetheless, Gaethje weathered the storm and gradually shifted the momentum in his favor as the fight progressed.

By the third round, the ‘Highlight’ had completely turned the tables on the Spaniard. Even so, Topuria continued to push forward in the next round despite absorbing significant damage. The contest was eventually halted after the fourth round when his corner decided to stop the fight before the start of the fifth.

In his first public statement since the defeat, Topuria praised his latest opponent and acknowledged the punishment he endured throughout the bout. The former champion also revealed that he lost vision in both eyes during the fight while refusing to offer any excuses for the result.

Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did. You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too. No excuses. I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night. That’s the nature of this game. Glory and pain walk side by side.

Ilia Topuria via Instagram

El Matador expressed confidence that he would return stronger. Moreover, the former featherweight said he hopes to face Gaethje again. Topuria, however, did not disclose the full extent of any injuries sustained during the fight. Even so, MMA insider Brett Okamoto confirmed with a member of the 29-year-old’s team that he was at home and had avoided any major injuries.

I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous. And trust me… this story between us is far from over. We will have our rematch.

Ilia Topuria via Instagram

Following the loss, Ilia Topuria has been mocked heavily by many of his longstanding rivals and fans. Paddy Pimblett and Islam Makhachev are just some of the fighters to clown the Spaniard for his loss. Even boxers, namely, Terence Crawford, have thrown themselves into the mix.

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Demetrious Johnson backs Ilia Topuria to be “greater” upon return

Topuria’s loss also drew reactions from figures who had backed him heading into the UFC Freedom 250 main event. One of those voices came from former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, who had previously picked Topuria to win the fight on his YouTube channel. Johnson’s comments came shortly after the result, as discussion around Topuria’s first defeat continued to spread across the MMA world.

Ilia Topuria, Mighty Mouse
Ilia Topuria backed to have a successful return by Demetrious Johnson [via Yahoo Sports and MMA Fighting]

The legendary flyweight suggested that a defeat does not define a fighter’s career. He pointed to several prominent examples as he discussed how setbacks have shaped the careers of other major names in the sport.

Every great athlete loses. GSP lost, I’ve gotten knocked out, Jon Jones lost. All the greats have lost. We’ve all lost, and that doesn’t mean Ilia Topuria can’t come back and be even greater.

Demetrious Johnson via his YouTube channel

The former flyweight champion showed a lot of respect to the former featherweight and lightweight champion as he reacted to his loss. But this respect is clearly mutual, as Ilia Topuria had earlier included Mighty Mouse on his GOAT list. That list also included the Spaniard’s bitter rival, Conor McGregor, who did not hesitate to mock him for his loss.

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