Behind the Cam: Topuria Told His Corner He 'Could Barely See' vs Gaethje

The UFC just released a commentary-free version of the fight that ended Ilia Topuria's aura, and the new angle makes the drama of Justin Gaethje's White House upset land even harder. Gaethje took the undisputed lightweight belt on June 14 on the South Lawn, surviving a scare in the second round before dismantling Topuria across the final two frames in front of a crowd that didn't expect the result.

The headline moment of the alternate cut comes in the third round. After Gaethje poured it on, Topuria returned to his stool and told his corner — including his brother Alexandre — that he could barely see anything. That prompted the doctor to step in, and the doctor was ready to wave the fight off.

The Call That Kept It Going

Referee Mark Goddard gave Topuria one more chance instead. On the footage, Goddard tells Topuria and the doctor he's willing to stop it but wants the champion to put himself back in the fight. Topuria went back out. The next two rounds were a face-altering beating, and the belt changed hands.

For Topuria, it was a staggering fall. He'd walked in as a two-division champion with an undefeated record and a reputation for finishing people before they could get comfortable. Gaethje flipped that script in a way most had filed under impossible.

What Happens Next

Gaethje hasn't committed to anything. He's floated the idea of walking away entirely, having finally checked the last box on a career that long deserved gold. If he does defend, the obvious dance partner is No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, who sits at 24-3 and is coming off a first-round TKO of Mauricio Ruffy — a brutal matchup for any champion.

Topuria, meanwhile, has only just resumed training. His team is eyeing a comeback, but realistically that won't happen until sometime in 2027. The division doesn't wait, and with Tsarukyan lurking and Charles Oliveira (37-11, 22 submissions) still circling, the lightweight picture won't look anything like it did on that June night by the time Topuria is cleared to climb back in.