Humble pie? Ilia Topuria has surprising first reaction to Justin Gaethje loss at UFC White House

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Ilia Topuria of Spain reacts to his loss 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)

Ilia Topuria likes to play with roses — and now he’s giving Justin Gaethje his flowers.

The former lightweight champion posted to social media on Monday less than 24 hours after he was hospitalized by “The Highlight.” In fact, the beating was so severe, “El Matador” was forced to quit on his stool after four rounds of abuse in the UFC White House main event.

“Justin, congratulations. You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did,” Topuria wrote on Instagram. “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. 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.”

Gaethje promised to “change his face” in their UFC White House headliner — and did.

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Don’t expect Topuria back any time soon.

“We literally had him get out of the Octagon before the hand was even raised and sent him to the hospital,” UFC CEO Dana White said during the UFC White House post-fight conference. “He’s busted up. I’m not a doctor, but his eye looked like he probably has a broken orbital. I don’t know that; that’s not a fact. I’m just assuming. My plans for him are to go home and rest and recover, take his time. [It] was a rough night for him. I just want to make sure he’s healthy and good and not even thinking about him fighting again. I just want him to go home and relax and rest and heal.”

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