UFC Freedom 250 as it happened: Gaethje stuns Topuria in co-main event as Trump celebrates 80th birthday with White House cage fight

We’re wrapping up our live coverage of the UFC Freedom 250 event to celebrate US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Thank you for joining us.

Read a recap of the event here.

Since 2020, the White House’s southern facade has served as the backdrop for a Republican National Convention, a rally preceding a mob attack on the Capitol, and now, a mixed martial arts match celebrating US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, the Washington Post reports.

Read the full story wrapping up the event here.

UFC Freedom 250 has now wrapped up after the headlining fight saw Justin Gaethje batter Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight title.

In the night’s other championship fight, Ciryl Gane beat Alex Pereira to take home the interim UFC heavyweight title.

A six-minute fireworks finale near the National Mall marked the end of the event at about 1.20am (Washington time).

AP

American lightweight Justin Gaethje and Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria made their walkouts from the Oval Office as fireworks exploded overhead during Michael Buffer’s introductions.

Gaethje mustered some scattered “USA!” chants against Topuria, though not even the main event could stop the trend of mostly quiet fights.

It took the gory sight of a bloodied Topuria nearly having the fight waved off to get a “let them fight!” chant going. The fight continued, and the 37-year-old Gaethje won eventually via corner stoppage in the fourth round.

“Hard work, baby,” Gaethje said. “I am made for these moments. This sport is made for me.”

The broadcast of fight night has taken viewers on a bit of a tour of the White House, with fighters warming up in different storied rooms.

For the final bout, Ilia Topuria prepared in the Roosevelt Room, while Justin Gaethje warmed up in the Cabinet Room.

Each of them passed through the Oval Office before winding their way to the Octagon – with Gaethje appearing to briefly read the copy of the Declaration of Independence that Trump has added.

AP

Ciryl Gane hammered Alex Pereira with a series of elbows and fists to the head and won via TKO in 1:27 of the second round to claim the interim belt and set up a rematch with heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall.

Like the bulk of the fighters who had their hands raised in victory, Gane thanked Trump.

Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje in the main event.

AP

It’s been a mixed night so far for the American fighters at the Freedom 250 event at the White House.

After US fighters lost their first two bouts against international opponents, Sean O’Malley delivered an impressive knockout of Canadian Aiemann Zahabi in their bantamweight fight.

Brazilian fighters went 2-0 against Americans, with Diego Lopes knocking out Steve Garcia in a featherweight bout and Mauricio Ruffy knocking out Michael Chandler in a lightweight bout.

Josh Hokit, after knocking out Derrick Lewis, thanked Trump, and “my lord and saviour Jesus Christ” before veering into an unfounded right-wing conspiracy theory about a former first lady: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”

If you’re just joining us, President Donald Trump is holding an 80th birthday party like no other on the South Lawn of the White House – UFC Freedom 250 – an event given equal billing as a commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

It’s now approaching midnight in the eastern US, and thousands of spectators gathered in the fan zone adjacent to the main arena have seen five fights, punctuated by military tributes, crypto and energy drink ads and a rendition of Y.M.C.A. by a Marine Corps band. The night’s biggest bouts are still to come.

The event kicked off just before 8.30pm in Washington, with Trump and UFC president Dana White walking through the White House to the 4300-seat “claw” arena, which is mainly occupied by invited VIPs and members of the US armed forces. Storms that threatened to cause delays have held off.

The official White House X account has been posting updates throughout the event, describing it as “a legendary night at the people’s house”.

Brazilian Mauricio Ruffy knocked out American Michael Chandler in the first round of a middleweight fight.

Ruffy stunned Chandler with a kick and then finished him off by TKO four and a half minutes into the fight, prompting Trump to pump his fist in approval from his ringside seat.

In the post-fight interview, Ruffy then proposed to his girlfriend, Nadine.

AP