Arman Tsarukyan recently criticized Ilia Topuria for losing the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, raising questions about the additional minute between rounds.
Topuria faced off against Gaethje in the main event of the eagerly anticipated UFC Freedom 250. With Topuria’s strong reputation, many fans expected him to defeat Gaethje easily. However, Gaethje defied expectations with his resilience and showcased his striking power from the start.
As the match progressed, Topuria seemed to lose stamina and suffered significant injuries in the third round. Despite medical warnings, he continued into the fourth round. Although he had some strong moments, his corner ultimately decided to stop the fight in the final round, resulting in Gaethje’s victory by fourth-round corner stoppage to claim the 155-pound title.
During the break between the third and fourth rounds, Topuria’s team took an extra minute to persuade the doctor that he was fit to continue after a thorough medical examination. This decision raised doubts about its propriety, as it provided Topuria with additional recovery time.
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Given the rivalry between Topuria and Tsarukyan, it was unsurprising that the Georgian-born Armenian took the chance to criticize his opponent. In a post on X, Tsarukyan questioned the extra time given between rounds, stating:
“So we’re giving extra minute to recover now, lol?
Gaethje’s professional record now stands at 28-5, with 21 of his victories coming by knockout. Meanwhile, Topuria’s previously unbeaten streak ended, leaving him with a 17-1 record, including 15 wins by finish.
Edited by Nishant Zende.
