Former champion points out the positive side of Topuria's brutal defeat at UFC Casa Branca.

Ilia Topuria was defeated by Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Casa Branca . Photo: UFC Europe / X

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Kamaru Usman believes that Ilia Topuria needed to go through a traumatic experience at UFC Casa Branca to evolve as a fighter. In the main event, held on June 14th, the Spaniard faced Justin Gaethje and suffered a decisive defeat , being forced to submit between the fourth and fifth rounds after suffering severe facial injuries. According to the former Nigerian champion, the setback could represent a turning point in 'El Matador's' career, elevating the athlete to a new competitive level.

In a statement to ONX Sports, Usman assessed that negative experiences are fundamental for growth within MMA, highlighting that Topuria himself needed to experience this type of adversity to better understand his limits and evolve.

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"To learn about yourself, you needed to go through something like that, and so he did exactly what he needed to do (lose)," said Kamaru Usman.

The former champion also mentioned Justin Gaethje as an example, recalling that the American has stated he has evolved after suffering significant defeats, such as the knockout against Max Holloway at UFC 300 and the submission loss against Khabib Nurmagomedov . According to Usman, going through these difficult moments is essential for a fighter to achieve greatness and be prepared for high-level performances.

"For Justin to make a comment like that, he needed to get through that last second with Max, he needed to be finished by Khabib, he needed to feel all those things, to have the greatness, to have a moment like that," concluded the Nigerian.

Justin Gaethje transformed Ilia Topuria's face at UFC Casa Branca

Topuria was punished by Gaethje in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

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After a balanced first round, Ilia Topuria returned for the second determined to justify his five-to-one odds against Justin Gaethje at UFC Casa Branca . Despite landing some good strikes and coming close to finishing the fight, the American held on, and the Spaniard returned for the third round already showing clear signs of fatigue.

With Topuria slowing down, Gaethje began to find his range with precise jabs and even managed to stagger the former champion with a powerful straight punch. Gradually, the Spaniard's face became deformed from the accumulated damage, until, in the break between the fourth and fifth rounds, his team opted to stop the fight.

After the fight, it was confirmed that Topuria suffered fractures to the orbital bones of her face and to her nose.

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