Ilia Topuria Hospitalized Immediately After White House Loss

Ilia Topuria was immediately transported to a local Washington hospital following his brutal bout and loss to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House.

The now-former UFC Lightweight Champion sustained severe injuries to both eyes, with significant swelling almost leading to a stoppage after the third round. By the end of the fourth round, he absorbed more punishment, prompting his corner to stop the fight, crowning Gaethje as the new undisputed champion.

After the event, UFC CEO Dana White provided an update on Topuria's condition and future plans, after suffering the first loss of his career.

"My plans for him are to go home, rest, and recover. Take his time, tonight was a tough one for him. I just want to make sure he's healthy and well, and I'm not even thinking about his next fight. I just want him to go home, relax, rest, and heal up," White added.

After Topuria's fast start early in the fight, which included a near-finish in the second round, his physical conditioning seemed to wane as Gaethje inflicted more damage. With his left eye almost shut after the third round, Topuria had to be checked by the ringside doctor to determine if he could safely continue the bout.

Notably, Topuria looked better at the start of the fourth round, but Gaethje simply continued his onslaught, landing devastating strikes and that brutal knee just before the bell. Topuria managed to reach his corner, but it wasn't long before his coaches stopped the fight to protect "El Matador" from taking further blows.

This loss marks the first of Topuria's career. He will now need to assess his physical condition post-fight to determine how long he will be sidelined from the octagon before planning his next move in the UFC.