UFC Freedom 250 live results: The White House historic event
One of the biggest events in UFC history, a truly historic event, capped off with two title fights, goes down as UFC Freedom 250 takes place on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, DC, weather permitting as storms are in the forecast.
The historic event is headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship Unification bout as UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria takes on Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje. Topuria returns from a year-long layoff after winning the title against Charles Oliveira last June. Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett in January for the interim title to set up this showdown.
The co-main event sees an Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on the line as Alex Pereira looks to make history when he takes on Ciryl Gane. Pereira, the former UFC Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Champion, looks to become the first fighter to win titles in three weight classes. Gane is looking to become an interim champion for the second time. The winner is expected to fight Tom Aspinall when Aspinall is cleared to return to action from his eye injury.
The rest of the loaded special seven-fight card sees a bantamweight bout between former champion Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi; a heavyweight bout pitting Josh Hokit against Derrick Lewis; Mauricio Ruffy battles Michael Chandler in a lightweight fight; middleweights Bo Nickal and Kyle Daukaus square off; and former title challenger Diego Lopes takes on Steve Garcia in the featherweight opener.
MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT
> Featherweights- #2 Diego Lopes (27-8, 6-3 UFC) vs. #9 Steve Garcia (19-5, 8-2 UFC)
Lopes with a high kick that Garcia blocks. Garcia lands an uppercut. Garcia lands a left hand then a body kick. Garcia lands another left hand. They trade punches and Garcia lands a left hand. Garcia with a body kick. Garcia with another body kick. Garcia with a right hook. They trade front kicks. They both land at the same time. Garcia lands a left hand. 10-9 Garcia.
Garcia landing more in the early stages of the second. Lopes lands a straight left hand. Garcia lands some left hands. Lopes clips Garcia with a right hand and they trade. Lopes then drops Garcia and starts landing from the top and it is all over! What a finish by Lopes!
Fight Result- Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia by knockout (punches) at 2:42 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Bo Nickal (8-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Kyle Daukaus (17-4 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC)
Nickal throws a right hand but uses it to duck under a Daukaus punch attempt and score a takedown. Nickal lands from the top. Nickal controlling from the top and landing as he’s trying to pass guard. Nickal with some elbows from the top and Daukaus is cut open. They get to their feet and trade and Nickal lands a kick. Nickal then drops Daukaus with a right hand and finishes it off with punches from the top. Nickal picks up the first-round stoppage.
Fight Result- Bo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus by TKO (punches) at 4:34 of Round 1
> Lightweights- #9 Mauricio Ruffy (13-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. #13 Michael Chandler (23-10, 2-5 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Ruffy lands a jab. Ruffy misses a right hand but lands a leg kick. Ruffy with a right hand. Ruffy with a spin kick to the body. Chandler lands a right hand but eats a pair of right hands from Ruffy. Ruffy pressing forward and lands a pair of big right hands. Ruffy with a spinning heel kick that hurts Chandler. Chandler shoots for a takedown but Ruffy defends. Ruffy lands a right hand and Chandler is hurt. Ruffy lands to the body against the fence and Chandler runs away. Chandler looks for a takedown but Ruffy sprawls. They get up. Ruffy lands a spin kick and Chandler goes down. Chandler tries to stand and Ruffy lands a big right hand and Chandler stays down and it is stopped! Ruffy gets the first round finish.
Fight Result- Mauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler by TKO (strikes) at 4:29 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- #5 Josh Hokit (9-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. #9 Derrick Lewis (29-13 1 NC, 20-11 UFC)
Hokit throwing some front kicks. Hokit throwing spin kicks and slips as he misses them all. Hokit with a jab. Lewis just misses a right hand. Lewis with a kick and Hokit lands a right hand. Hokit scores a takedown and lands a left hand from the top. Hokit with some left hands as he is on his feet. Hokit with more left hands. Hokit with a big right hand from the top. Hokit lands an elbow. They almost get up but Hokit keeps it on the mat. Hokit takes the back as Lewis is cut open. Lewis rolls to his back and Hokit stands. Hokit with a left hand. Lewis gives up his back but he rolls back to his back. Hokit lands from the top. They get to their feet but Hokit drags Lewis back down. Hokit locks in an armbar. Lewis is hanging on. Lewis survives. 10-8 Hokit.
Hokit works the jab. Hokit with a left hand and looks for a single leg, but Lewis defends by landing punches. Lewis with a knee to the body. They clinch up but break apart. Hokit lands some big punches and Lewis looked wobbled for a moment. Hokit with a right hand and then another. Hokit lands as Lewis misses a right hand. Hokit lands a combination. Hokit with a big right hand followed by a knee. Hokit lands against the fence. Hokit with a big combination. Hokit lands and Lewis goes down and Hokit finishes it off with punches from the top.
Fight Result- Josh Hokit def. Derrick Lewis by TKO (punches) at 4:09 of Round 2
> Bantamweights- #3 Sean O’Malley (19-3 1 NC, 11-3 1 NC UFC) vs. #6 Aiemann Zahabi (14-2, 8-2 UFC)
Both are feeling each other out in the first minute as neither has landed. O’Malley lands a right hand. They trade jabs and O’Malley lands a pair of right hands. Zahabi is just circling around and not doing much. O’Malley with a right hand to the body and Zahabi lands an inside leg kick. They trade jabs. Zahabi with a left hook. O’Malley with a right hand to the body. O’Malley with a series of right hands and lands a knee up the middle. O’Malley lands a combo. 10-9 O’Malley.
Zahabi with a pair of leg kicks. He lands another inside leg kick. Zahabi lands another leg kick. Zahabi with a left hand and O’Malley lands a right hand. O’Malley with another right hand. O’Malley with a spin kick that just misses. O’Malley with a combination but Zahabi counters with several leg kicks. O’Malley lands a right hand. Zahabi with another inside leg kick. He lands another and O’Malley lands a left hand. O’Malley lands a solid right hand. O’Malley drops Zahabi with a left hand and then puts Zahabi back down with another punch and starts walking off and it is stopped! What a finish by O’Malley!
Fight Result- Sean O’Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi by TKO (punch) at 4:02 of Round 2
> Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship- #2 LHW Alex Pereira (13-3, 10-2 UFC) vs. #1 Ciryl Gane (13-2 1 NC, 10-2 1 NC UFC)
Pereira with a head kick. Pereira lands a leg kick. Pereira with another head kick. Gane lands a leg kick. Gane works the jab. Gane with an inside leg kick. Gane with a leg kick followed by a jab. Gane lands a nice combination. Gane with a right hand. Gane lands another leg kick. Gane lands a left hand. They trade high kicks. Pereira with a high kick. Gane with a calf kick and Pereira hurts Gane late. 10-9 Gane.
Gane with a pair of leg kicks and Pereira lands a high kick. Gane with a combo. Gane looks for a takedown but Pereira defends. Gane drops Pereira with a punch and is landing big elbows on the mat as Pereira is trying to stand. Pereira gets to his feet and Gane lands a right hand. Gane with a big elbow and Gane lands big punches. Gane lands a big right hand followed by a big left hand and Pereira crashes back into the cage and it is stopped! Gane has finished Pereira!
Fight Result- Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira by TKO (punches) at 1:27 of Round 2 to win the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
> UFC Lightweight Championship- C Ilia Topuria (17-0, 9-0 UFC) vs. IC Justin Gaethje (27-5, 10-5 UFC)
Gaethje lands an uppercut. Gaethje with a body kick. Topuria lands a leg kick. Topuria with a big right hand. Topuria lands another right hand. Gaethje with a jab and Topuria lands a right hand. Topuria lands a clean right hand. Gaethje with a nice jab. Topuria with a heavy leg kick and Gaethje lands a jab. They trade jabs. Gaethje lands a right hand. Gaethje lands another right hand. Gaethje with another right hand. Topuria lands a right hand followed by a left hook. They trade inside the pocket. They trade big right hands and both are swinging. Topuria lands a combination. Topuria with some body shots and they trade late. Wild round. 10-9 Topuria.
Topuria lands a right hand to the body. Topuria lands a close combo that seemed to hurt Gaethje a little. Gaethje lands an uppercut. Topuria lands a jab then a right hand. Gaethje lands a right hand. Topuria with more shots to the body and lands a right hand. Gaethje fires back with a right hand. Topuria with big body shots and they trade inside the pocket. Topuria lands more uppercuts and lands more shots to the body. Topuria with a flurry of body shots. Topuria lands to the body and Gaethje goes to the mat. Topuria lands from the top and looks for an armbar. Topuria looks for a mounted triangle choke. Topuria attacks the arm but then gets the mount. Topuria moves to side control and ends the round there. 10-9 Topuria, 20-18 Topuria.
Gaethje lands a right hand. Topuria lands a right hand as Gaethje lands a leg kick. Gaethje with a right hand. Gaethje lands a jab. Gaethje lands a jab. Gaethje with a massive right hand that hurts Topuria. Topuria looks for a takedown and Gaethje sprawls. They get to their feet. Topuria is busted up. Gaethje with a head kick. They trade in close range. Gaethje with some uppercuts. Gaethje lands a big right hand. Topuria is hurt. They clinch against the fence. 10-9 Gaethje, 29-28 Topuria.
Gaethje lands a right hand. They tie up and Gaethje throws Topuria down and lands some knees as they stand. They separate and Gaethje lands a few big shots. Topuria with a leg kick. They trade big right hands. Topuria lands a right hand. Gaethje with a jumping knee and Topuria lands a right hand. Gaethje hurts Topuria with a right hand. Gaethje with a right hand. Topuria lands a knee to the body. Topuria gets a takedown and gets the mount. Topuria with an elbow. Gaethje escapes and they stand. Topuria looks for a takedown but Gaethje sprawls. Gaethje with a knee to the body and some body shots. 10-9 Gaethje, 38-38.
The fight is over between rounds as Topuria says he can’t continue and his corner stops it. Gaethje is the new undisputed champion!
Fight Result- Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 4 to win the UFC Lightweight Championship
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter