Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria Hit With Long-Term Medical Suspensions

Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria put on one of the best fights of the year at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday at the White House.

Gaethje left as the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, and Topuria left with an almost unrecognizable face and a trip to the hospital.

The fight was so brutal, in fact, that both were handed the longest mandatory medical suspensions on the card, according to MMA Fighting.

Gaethje was hit with a 180-day suspension unless he's cleared before due to a right wrist injury and MRI on his left knee. He has to serve a mandatory 45-day medical suspension.

The medical suspension may have been worth it for Gaethje, who pocketed $825,000 in post-fight bonuses for winning Fight of the Night ($400,000) and Performance of the Night ($425,000).

Topuria was also given a 180-day suspension unless he's cleared earlier by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He has to serve a mandatory 60-day medical suspension due to his fight ending in a knockout.

They weren't the only fighters hit with lengthy medical suspensions after the UFC Freedom 250 card.

Alex Pereira, Aiemann Zahabi, and Steve Garcia - who all lost via TKO or knockout - were also handed 180-day medical suspensions too. Pereira and Zahabi can be cleared before by maxillofacial CT scan, and they must serve mandatory 45-day medical suspensions for their fights ending in knockouts.

Garcia can be cleared before with an X-ray on his left hand. He must serve a mandatory 60-day medical suspension for his fight ending in a knockout.

Michael Chandler, Derrick Lewis, and Kyle Daukaus must all serve mandatory 45-day medical suspensions for knockouts, and Diego Lopes must serve a mandatory 30-day medical suspension unless he's cleared by a physician.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 6:46 PM.