UFC President Dana White stated that Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria is in the hospital following his defeat in the bout, having sustained a serious eye injury.
White noted that he is not a doctor, but judging by the condition of the Georgian fighter, who lost his UFC champion title, Topuria presumably suffered an orbital fracture.
“Right now, my only plan for Ilia is for him to go home, rest, and recover. This was a very tough night for him. I only care about his health and well-being. I’m not thinking about his next fight at all right now—I want him to relax and recover,” White said.
In the fight for the UFC lightweight championship belt, Ilia Topuria lost to Justin Gaethje. The bout lasted 4 rounds. In the 5th round, the Georgian fighter was unable to continue the fight due to an eye injury.
The tournament took place on the grounds of the White House and was timed to the 250th anniversary of US independence. The event was attended by about 4,000 spectators, as well as US President Donald Trump.
This is the first defeat of Topuria’s career in mixed martial arts. He has 17 wins and one loss.