Justin Gaethje emerged with a stunning victory in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., as he beat undefeated champion Ilia Topuria in a UFC Lightweight Championship unification fight outside the White House on Sunday.
The 37-year-old entered the match as a significant underdog, yet looked like the favorite from the start, bloodying up Topuria’s face earlier and continuing to hurt him through the next several rounds with damaging kicks and punches.
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After the fourth round, an individual in Topuria’s corner called for the stoppage, signaling that he’d sustained too much damage to continue fighting. He ultimately left with help from his team members and got checked on at a hospital later.
With that, Gaethje achieved a massive victory, becoming the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion, and refused to give an answer on his retirement decision after the fight.
However, former champion Demetrious Johnson believes it’s now time for Gaethje to ride off into the sunset with his major win, rather than keep fighting.
More news: Ilia Topuria Breaks Silence on UFC Freedom 250 Loss to Justin Gaethje
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Justin Gaethje of the United States celebrates after defeating Ilia Topuria of Georgia by technical knockout in the fourth round in the UFC Lightweight Championship bout during UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“There is nothing left for Justin Gaethje to do. He’s made so much money, he is an undisputed lightweight champion,” Johnson said in a new video uploaded to his YouTube channel after the event.
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“The best thing Justin Gaethje can do is retire. He should retire on this amazing victory against a legend like Ilia Topuria,” he said, adding, “You retire on top, you save your brain cells, you ride off into the sunset. You beat one of the best athletes, you gave him his first [expletive] defeat.”
Johnson is a former UFC Flyweight Champion whose career went from 2006 to 2023. He went 25-4-1, including a 5-1 record after his trade from UFC to ONE Championship.
The fighter known as “Mighty Mouse” opted to retire in 2023 after another successful defense of the ONE Flyweight Championship at ONE Fight Night 10. He’ll be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 9, just a few days before Conor McGregor returns to fight Max Holloway at UFC 329.
Immediately after Gaethje’s big win this weekend, Joe Rogan interviewed him inside the cage, and mentioned “retirement,” to which the fight winner said he’d promised his mother he’d save a decision on that until after Sunday night.
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The 37-year-old holds a 28-5 career record, with 21 of those wins coming via knockout. Sunday’s victory over Topuria was his third straight win, with his last loss in April 2024 against Max Holloway. Other losses for Gaethje included top-tier fighters such as Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Sometimes going out on top is the best decision, and it’s something many other athletes can’t do. Some decide they still prefer the thrill of seeking victories in their sport of choice, and end up suffering an embarrassing career-ending loss or performance.
At this point, it seems to make the most sense for Gaethje to use his championship win at the perfect final chapter in his MMA journey.
More news: Justin Gaethje Addresses Retirement Decision After Ilia Topuria Upset
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