Ilia Topuria Says Eye Poke Turned Title Fight Into Loss

**Ilia Topuria** lost his lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250 after a fourth‑round TKO, and his teammate Merab Dvalishvili now claims a first‑round eye poke from Justin Gaethje was the hidden cause.

On the UFC White House lawn, Gaethje and Topuria clashed in a high‑stakes unification bout. The fight progressed until the fourth round, when the referee stopped the contest because Topuria could no longer see clearly. Gaethje was declared the new unified lightweight champion.

Speaking to MMAFighting.com’s Damon Martin, Dvalishvili described a moment in the opening round when Gaethje threw a punch with his thumb extended, allegedly making contact with Topuria’s eye. He argued that the accidental poke left Topuria “blind” in both eyes, forcing him to fight on impaired vision. Dvalishvili added that Topuria also suffered a broken nose, compounding the difficulty.

Referee Marc Goddard did not call a foul, issue a warning, or pause the bout for a medical check after the alleged poke. The fight continued, and Topuria’s performance visibly declined as the rounds wore on. The corner eventually threw in the towel when Topuria could not defend himself effectively.

Dvalishvili believes a second meeting would look very different. He insists Topuria’s blindness was the “main thing” that night and that, without it, the Georgian‑Spanish champion could have turned the tide. He also noted Topuria’s confidence, saying the fighter will return stronger and aim to reclaim his belt.

While the claim adds drama, UFC matchmaking usually favors contenders who are still on a winning streak. Topuria now sits on a loss and will likely need another victory to earn a title shot. Still, the eye‑poke narrative could influence fan interest and push the promotion toward a rematch if the market responds.

The loss halts Topuria’s unbeaten run and drops him from the top spot in the lightweight rankings. If the eye‑poke allegation gains traction, it could affect public perception of the fight’s fairness and perhaps lead to a review of officiating standards. For Topuria, the focus will be on rebuilding, addressing any lingering injuries, and proving he can dominate again.

Gaethje now holds the unified lightweight title and will likely defend it against the next ranked contender. Topuria, meanwhile, is expected to return to the Octagon within the next few months, aiming to string together wins that put him back in title contention. The eye‑poke claim adds a layer of intrigue that could shape future promotional narratives.