Topuria, nicknamed “The Matador,” lost to his American opponent in the “UFC Freedom 250” event organized by the “Dana White” company at the White House, where the fight ended with a technical knockout after his brother Alexander was forced to intervene and stop the fight due to the seriousness of the wounds that covered his face.
Medical reports revealed that the former champion ended the fight with severe injuries, including fractures in both bones in the eye socket in his face, in addition to a fracture in the nasal septum, which reflects the extent of the ferocity and bloodiness witnessed in that historic confrontation.
Following the end of the “UFC Freedom 250” event, the Association of Boxing and Combat Sports Commissions issued immediate suspension decisions for Justin Gaethje and Elia Topuria, in addition to the rest of the 14 competitors who participated that night. However, nine fighters, including Topuria, received much longer suspension periods than those initially scheduled due to the seriousness of their injuries.
The California State Athletic Commission decided to suspend Topuria for 180 days, which is the maximum penalty imposed by the body, following the fierce battle he fought against Ghaithi in Washington.
In addition to the suspension, the fighter of Georgian and Spanish origins will have to undergo a careful medical evaluation under the supervision of a specialist maxillofacial surgeon, to ensure his recovery from the double fractures in the bones of the eye socket caused by Ghaithi’s powerful blows inside the fight cage in the White House.
Doctors believe that the return of “The Matador” to the cage before the end of 2026 is considered “impossible” from a medical standpoint, explaining that the recovery process will be “long, tedious, and arduous,” and patience will be the fundamental and fundamental factor to see a developed and healthy version of the Spanish fighter in the ring again.
Topuria realizes that he will have to go through difficult months during the recovery period, but his full commitment to the treatment and rehabilitation program will be the essential step to ensuring that he returns to the ring in the best possible physical condition, and perhaps at a level that he has never reached before throughout his sporting career.
