Justin Gaethje compares Topuria upset to 'Miracle on Ice'

Justin Gaethje likened his upset victory over Ilia Topuria to the 1980 U.S. hockey team's Olympic triumph after stopping the heavy favorite at UFC White House on Sunday night in Washington, D.C.

Gaethje battered Topuria so severely that the challenger's corner waved off the lightweight title fight after the fourth round, per MMA Mania. The win netted Gaethje the 155-pound belt he had chased for years, plus dual performance bonuses that brought his total haul to $825,000. "America, f*ck yeah!" Gaethje reportedly said in the aftermath, invoking the patriotic fervor of the iconic hockey upset.

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Topuria's cardio collapse after second round

Topuria entered the bout as a heavy betting favorite and spent fight week celebrating prematurely, according to the report, dismissing Gaethje as legitimate competition. The Spaniard nearly finished Gaethje in the second round but stopped throwing punches soon after, with striking stats showing a dramatic dropoff in output between rounds two and three. Observers speculated whether an adrenaline dump or cardio issues caused Topuria to fade.

Gaethje remained respectful in victory despite Topuria's pre-fight swagger. The American's fourth-round stoppage marked his first undisputed UFC lightweight title after years of falling short in championship bids. His next defense remains unscheduled.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — ‘America, f—k yeah!’ Justin Gaethje compares upset win over Ilia Topuria to ‘Miracle on Ice’