UFC White House Event Regulator Responds to Ilia Topuria’s Cheating Allegations Against Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria has questioned whether Justin Gaethje’s gloves were properly prepared for their UFC Freedom 250 fight. A regulator who oversaw the White House event has now responded to the former champion’s comments.

Topuria returned to the controversy this week after previously staying quiet following his first professional loss. He suggested on X that something unusual may have been inside Gaethje’s gloves and wrote:

“Next time I’ll make sure they check Justin’s gloves so he doesn’t put anything weird on them.”

Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission and one of the regulators involved with UFC Freedom 250, rejected the suggestion. Speaking to “USA TODAY Sports,” Foster said Gaethje’s gloves and hand wraps had gone through the required checks before the fight.

“His gloves and wraps were fine and totally within regulations,’’ Andy Foster said. “Also well inspected by multiple inspectors.’’

Foster also explained why the allegation would be difficult to carry out in MMA. Professional boxing gloves are generally larger, while MMA fighters use four-ounce gloves, leaving considerably less room to hide a foreign object. “Harder to pull that off,” Foster said when discussing the possibility of concealing something inside an MMA glove.

The issue came up months after Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. The fight took place on the South Lawn of the White House, with Gaethje stopping Topuria via corner stoppage at the end of the fourth round to become the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion.

Colby Covington Backs Justin Gaethje Glove Allegations

Topuria’s comments have since drawn reactions from other fighters, with Colby Covington offering a more uncertain take on the allegations.

Speaking to Helen Yee, Covington said he had seen the pictures being discussed online and admitted that Gaethje’s gloves looked unusual to him. He stopped short of saying that the champion had actually cheated, though.

“You know, I’ve seen the conspiracy theories, and I’ve seen, like, the pictures. It definitely looked like there was something in his glove. Like, I don’t know what to say. It looked off-color, it didn’t look like the taping of your hands, you know, how all the UFC fighters get their hands wrapped. It looked like an off-color yellow, didn’t look like white tape. So, I don’t know. Maybe he’s on to something. Maybe he knows something we don’t know. I don’t know.”

Covington then made it clear that he did not want to treat the speculation as fact. He also gave Gaethje credit for what happened inside the Octagon and said he would like to see the two lightweights meet again.

“I don’t like to speculate on things,” Covington continued. “You know, Ilia lost the fight fair and square. Justin got his hand raised. It was one of the greatest underdog stories in American history, and you know, I’d like to see that fight again.”

Gaethje’s win remains official, and the UFC lists him as the reigning Lightweight Champion. Topuria, meanwhile, has continued to talk about returning and potentially getting another opportunity against the man who handed him the first defeat of his professional career.

For now, the glove allegation remains an accusation from Topuria, with the regulator who inspected Gaethje’s equipment directly disputing it.