UFC Freedom 250 delivered for fight fans in every way, shape and form with one of the most memorable nights in octagon history at the White House in Washington DC.
A stunning title change unfolded in the main event when Justin Gaethje (28-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) unified lightweight belts by upsetting Ilia Topuria (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in a corner stoppage TKO to hand “El Matador” his first career loss.
Prior to that, Ciryl Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) caught and stopped Alex Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) for a second-round TKO to once again become interim heavyweight champion.
For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s UFC Freedom 250 post-event facts.
Event stats
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $241,500.
Gaethje and Topuria earned $500,000 UFC Freedom 250 bonuses for Fight of the Night. Gaethje and Ciryl Gane also earned $250,000 Performance of the Night bonuses. Five other fighters earned $25,000 finish bonuses.
Betting favorites went 5-1 on the card. One fight had even odds.
Betting favorites fell to 7-9 in UFC headliners this year. Three main events in 2026 have had even odds.
Total fight time for the seven-bout card was 1:01:23.
Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria
Gaethje became the 14th undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
Gaethje became the second fighter in UFC history to win an the BMF title, an interim title and an undisputed title. Max Holloway also accomplished the feat.
Gaethje’s seven knockout victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Drew Dober (11) and Dustin Poirier (nine).
Gaethje had earned 23 of his 28 career victories by stoppage.
Gaethje has been awarded 17 fight-night bonuses in 15 UFC appearances.
Gaethje’s 17 UFC fight-night bonuses since 2017 are most of any fighter in the company.
Gaethje’s 17 UFC fight-night bonuses for lightweight bouts are tied for most in divisional history.
Gaethje’s 11 Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC competition are most in company history.
Topuria had his 17-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira
Gane became the second two-time interim champion in UFC history. Gaethje also accomplished the feat.
Gane has earned 10 of his 14 career victories by stoppage.
Pereira was unsuccessful in his UFC heavyweight debut.
Pereira has suffered three of his four career losses by stoppage.
Pereira has suffered two of his three career losses by knockout.
Sean O’Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi
Sean O’Malley (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) has earned 14 of 20 career victories by stoppage.
O’Malley has earned all seven of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
O’Malley’s seven knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with T.J. Dillashaw for most in divisional history.
Aiemann Zahabi (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
Josh Hokit def. Derrick Lewis
Josh Hokit (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage.
Hokit’s four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied with Valter Walker for the longest active streak in the division.
Derrick Lewis (29-14 MMA, 20-12 UFC) fell to 3-6 in his past nine fights dating back to February 2022.
Lewis has suffered 11 of his 12 UFC losses by stoppage.
Mauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler
Mauricio Ruffy (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has earned 13 of his 14 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished nine of those wins in Round 1.
Michael Chandler’s (23-11 MMA, 2-6 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2022.
Chandler has suffered five of his six UFC losses by stoppage.
Chandler has suffered six of his seven career stoppage losses due to strikes.
Bo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus
Bo Nickal (9-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has earned eight of his nine career victories by stoppage.
Kyle Daukaus (17-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC) fell to 2-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in August 2025.
Daukaus has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia
Diego Lopes (28-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has earned 23 of his 27 career victories by stoppage.
Lopes has earned five of his seven UFC victories by stoppage.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House post-event facts: Justin Gaethje makes bonus history
