The Spanish fighter Ilia Topuria, of Georgian origin, fell early this Monday defeated against the American Justin Gaethje in the UFC mixed martial arts main event held at the White House on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
Topuria, who ended up with a bloody face, suffered the first defeat in his history (17-1), lost his undefeated status in his career and was unable to retain the title of UFC lightweight champion.
The referee stopped the fight
Although “el Matador” asked to continue the fight, once the fourth round was over, his brother Aleksandre made the decision for the referee to stop the fight, given that Topuria could hardly see anything and a doctor had recommended ending it.
Gaethje (28-5) became the new UFC lightweight champion, a belt he had held on an interim basis, by triumphing in the octagon installed on the south lawn of the White House and in which Trump was seated in the front row next to the first lady, Melania.
Tempers before the fight were heated since Gaethje had recently mocked Topuria’s divorce and Topuria pushed him last Friday during a press conference they had together at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
The evening held at the White House, an unprecedented setting, was announced as part of the commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, which will be celebrated next July 4, although it coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday.
For the event, the Republican installed a temporary stadium on the south lawn of the White House with capacity for about 4,000 people, covered by a large metal structure with lighting in the colors of the American flag.
In the park adjacent to the presidential residence, known as Elipse, giant screens were installed to watch the fights, a space prepared to receive more than 80,000 people from the public.
The show has been criticized by Trump’s detractors for using the White House for a private event for commercial purposes.
The Republican has a long friendship with Dana White, president of the UFC, organizer of the event, which cost 60 million dollars.
A citizen organization filed a lawsuit to try to stop the fight, considering it an act of corruption, given that Trump owns shares in the UFC parent company, but a judge dismissed it.
