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Ilia Topuria

Georgian and Spanish mixed martial artist (born 1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ilia Topuria
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Ilia Topuria (Georgian: ილია თოფურია;[11] born January 21, 1997) is a Georgian[2] and Spanish[3] professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Lightweight Champion. A professional since 2015, Topuria is the former UFC Featherweight Champion, becoming the first Georgian and Spanish fighter to win a UFC championship.[12] As of November 18, 2025, he is #2 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.[13]

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Background

Topuria was born in Halle Westfalen, Germany.[14][15][16][17] to Georgian parents who were refugees from Abkhazia.[10][18] At the age of seven, Topuria moved to Georgia with his family and started practicing Greco-Roman wrestling at a local school.[10] After the Russo-Georgian War, at the age of 15, they once again relocated, this time to Alicante, Spain.[19] He began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Climent gym at the age of 15, before switching over to mixed martial arts.[20] In 2015, he made his debut as a professional in local competitions.[21][10] Topuria has an older brother, Aleksandre Topuria, who is also a professional mixed martial artist signed to the UFC.[22]

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Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

Topuria started his career with four straight submission wins on the Spanish regional scene and won a belt in Mix Fight Events promotion. In 2018, he competed in his first international fight in Cage MMA Finland.[23] In the same year, in May, he became the first Georgian black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu alongside his brother Alex Topuria. Months later he received the opportunity to fight for the Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, Belgium. Ilia failed to make the agreed weight so despite winning the fight quickly, he did not get the belt.[24]

In 2019, he signed with Brave Combat Federation. Ilia made his promotional debut in Bogotá, Colombia,[25] defeating Luis Gomez in the first round by submission;[26] which earned him the award for best performance of the night. On November 15, 2019, in Bahrain, he won his second fight in BRAVE by defeating Steven Goncalves by KO in the first round.[27][28]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Topuria, as a replacement for Seung Woo Choi, took a bout on short notice against Youssef Zalal on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen.[29] Topuria won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]

Topuria faced Damon Jackson on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori.[31] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[32]

Topuria faced Ryan Hall on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264.[33] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[34]

Topuria was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270.[35] However, Evloev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and [36] was replaced by Charles Jourdain.[37] However, Topuria was pulled from the card due to a medical issue related to cutting weight and the bout was cancelled.[38]

Topuria faced Jai Herbert, replacing Mike Davis, on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204.[39] Topuria suffered a knockdown from a head kick in round one, but recovered and won the fight via knockout in round two.[40] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[41]

Topuria was scheduled to face Edson Barboza on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213.[42] However, Barboza withdrew in late September due to a knee injury and the bout was cancelled.[43]

Topuria faced Bryce Mitchell on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282.[44] He won the fight via submission in round two.[45] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[46]

Topuria was initially scheduled to face Josh Emmett on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47.[47] However, the promotion later announced that the bout was shifted to headline UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria on June 24, 2023.[48] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[49] The bout earned him the Fight of the Night award.[50]

UFC Featherweight Champion

In October 2023, Topuria was scheduled to face Alexander Volkanovski on January 20, 2024, for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 297.[51] However, on ten days notice replacing an injured Charles Oliveira, Volkanovski faced Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 294 on October 21, 2023, and was knocked out in the first round.[52] As a result, Topuria vs. Volkanovski was pushed back one month to headline UFC 298 on February 17, 2024.[53] Topuria won the featherweight championship via knockout in the second round, ending Volkanovski's four-year reign as champion.[54] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[55]

Topuria defended his UFC Featherweight Championship against former champion Max Holloway on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308.[56] He won the fight by knockout in the third round, leading to the first knockout loss of Holloway's career.[57] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[58]

Vacating title

Despite rumors of a rematch between Topuria and Volkanovski,[59][60] on February 19, 2025, it was announced that Topuria would vacate his title as soon as the featherweight championship main event at UFC 314 started.[61] UFC president Dana White explained Topuria's unexpected move, citing difficulties cutting weight, a lack of interest in the division's competition, and a desire to move up to Lightweight permanently.[62]

UFC Lightweight Champion

Topuria faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317.[63] He defeated Oliveira by knockout at 2:27 of the first round, becoming the tenth multi-division champion in UFC history.[64] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[65] Following the bout, Topuria was promoted to #1 in the UFC pound for pound rankings.[66] However, the #1 ranking was given back to Islam Makhachev on November 19, 2025 after he claimed the welterweight championship.[67]

In November 2025, Topuria announced that he would not be competing in the first quarter of 2026 due to personal reasons.[68]

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Fighting style and training

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Initially coming into the UFC organization with a strong base in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Topuria dedicated himself to enhancing his stand-up game, developing a boxing-heavy approach under the guidance of experienced coaches. His boxing style is marked by precise shot selection, fluid combinations, and remarkable power, which was on full display during his knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira. Topuria's execution of boxing is strategic, using his footwork and positioning to set up clean, fight-altering punches.[69][70] Topuria is also known for his defensive techniques such as his use of the shoulder roll against Josh Emmett.[71][72] He has cited the Mexican boxing style, particularly that of Canelo Álvarez, as a major inspiration for his striking, adapting its principles to mixed martial arts.[73]

Topuria has trained with fellow Georgian and UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, who has praised Topuria's grappling skills, stating that he has "great wrestling, great jiu-jitsu,". Dvalishvili also brought up Topuria's striking power, stating that he "hits hard" and Topuria had dropped him twice with body shots in sparring sessions.[74]

Personal life

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Topuria accepting an award from the President of Georgia at the Orbeliani Palace

Topuria is fluent in Georgian, English, Spanish, and also speaks a bit of Mingrelian.[75][76][77] Topuria has a son (born 2019) and daughter (born 2024) from his current wife, Giorgina Uzcategui Badell.[78][79][80]

Topuria is a Christian.[81][82][83]

Topuria's older brother Aleksandre, also a mixed martial artist, debuted with the UFC in February 2025 at UFC 312.[84]

On March 5, 2024, Topuria obtained Spanish citizenship after it was announced at the Council of Ministers press conference.[3][85]

On March 21, 2024, Topuria was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia in Orbeliani Palace, Tbilisi, Georgia.[86] That day, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the government will ensure Ilia retains his Georgian citizenship, making him a dual citizen of Georgia and Spain.[2]

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Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
17 matches 17 wins 0 losses
By knockout 7 0
By submission 8 0
By decision 2 0
More information Res., Record ...

[99]

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Pay-per-view bouts

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See also

References

External links

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