Justin Gaethje: Ilia Topuria Didn't Quit on the Stool in Our Fight

Newly crowned undisputed UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has clarified the conclusion of his title showdown against Ilia Topuria at the White House, shutting down swirling rumors surrounding the stoppage.

Gaethje produced one of the biggest upsets in the promotion's history when the bout was halted at the end of the fourth round. While public opinion quickly suggested that Topuria chose to quit on his own, the belt holder set the record straight on what really happened.

"He didn't quit on the stool," Gaethje revealed in an interview with Steiny. "His body was just too beaten up to continue. It wasn't his decision—his coaches made the call, and their job is precisely to protect him. In my corner, my trainers are there for the exact same reason in moments like that."

Topuria's post-fight reaction took an unexpected turn, however. Despite initially congratulating the victor, the former two-division champion later made allegations claiming Gaethje had tampered with his gloves ahead of the South Lawn bout. Asked whether he felt insulted by Topuria's comments, Gaethje noted that while he disapproves of today's online landscape, he accepts it as an inescapable reality.

"I'm not mad. He belongs to this era where people say wild things just for entertainment. The internet is ridiculous—everything is done for clicks and reactions. People just chase views and attention. I don't love the game, but I have to play it while trying to stay true to myself."

Even though Topuria and his camp are pushing for an immediate rematch, Arman Tsarukyan stands as the logical next challenger in the division. While Gaethje has yet to make a definitive decision about his future, he acknowledges Tsarukyan's rightful claim to fight for the title.

"It's completely normal to discuss who the next opponent will be right now. Arman had a huge win with a great finish, so it's only natural that he's in the spotlight as the undisputed top contender," Gaethje concluded.