Topuria Stopped Gaethje at White House Card After Four Rounds; Corner Pulled Ilia Out

Raw corner audio from the White House card has surfaced, giving fans a close look at the moment Ilia Topuria's fight with Justin Gaethje came to an end. After four rounds of sustained violence, Topuria's brother Aleksandre made the call to pull him out, and the UFC released the audio.

Referee Marc Goddard made a point of recognizing Aleksandre right after the stoppage. According to the UFC's account, Goddard thanked him for stepping in and protecting his brother from unnecessary, potentially life-altering damage. In the audio, Topuria can be heard saying, "Thank you for stopping it."

Topuria, a 29-year-old Spaniard who trains with Climent Club, entered the bout 17-1 and ranked first in the lightweight division. He also holds the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. An orthodox fighter, he stands five-foot-seven, 170 cm, with a 69-inch reach, and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He averages 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts.

Gaethje, 37, is the lightweight champion and fights out of Genesis Training Center. The American carries a 28-5 record and is known for volume and accuracy on the feet. He lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He is an orthodox fighter, five-foot-eleven, 180 cm, with a 70-inch reach. He rarely looks for takedowns, averaging 0.33 per 15 minutes, and has no submission attempts on his record.

Why it matters

• The finish came after four rounds, with the corner stoppage ending the fight before it reached the championship distance.
• Both men carry elite striking numbers, and the fight lived up to its violent billing before Topuria's side stepped in.
• Goddard's public thanks to Aleksandre underlines the role corners play in fighter safety when a bout is still competitive but the damage is mounting.