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Ilia Topuria

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Ilia Topuria
Topuria in 2024
Born (1997-01-21) January 21, 1997 (age 27)
Halle, Germany
Other namesEl Matador
NationalityGeorgian[1]
Spanish[2]
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)[3][4][5]
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionLightweight (2022)
Featherweight (2015–2021, 2022–present)
Bantamweight (2018)
Reach69 in (175 cm)[6]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofAlicante, Spain
TeamCliment Club (2012–present)[7]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jorge and Agustin Climent[8][7]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins16
By knockout6
By submission8
By decision2
Losses0
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ilia Topuria (Georgian: ილია თოფურია;[9] born January 21, 1997) is a Georgian[1] and Spanish[2] professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Featherweight Champion and both the first Georgian and Spanish fighter to win a UFC championship. As of July 30, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.[10]

Background

Topuria was born in Halle Westfalen, Germany[11][12][13][14] to Georgian parents who were refugees from Abkhazia.[8][15]

At the age of seven, Topuria moved to Georgia with his family and started practicing Greco-Roman wrestling at a local school.[8] At the age of 15, he again relocated to live in Alicante in Spain, where he started practicing martial arts at the Climent Club.[16] In 2015, he made his debut as a professional in local competitions.[17][8] Topuria has an older brother, Aleksandre, who is also a professional mixed martial artist signed to the UFC.[18]

Initially coming into the UFC organization with a strong base in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Topuria dedicated himself to enhancing his stand-up game, particularly his boxing, 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 Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in 2024. Topuria's approach to boxing is strategic, using his footwork and positioning to set up clean, fight-altering punches. His ability to land powerful strikes while maintaining composure has made him one of the most dangerous all around fighters in the division.[19][20]

Mixed martial arts career

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.[21] 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.[22]

In 2019, he signed with Brave Combat Federation. Ilia made his promotional debut in Bogotá, Colombia,[23] defeating Luis Gomez in the first round by submission;[24] which earned him the award for best performance of the night.[25] On November 15, 2019, in Bahrain, he won his second fight in BRAVE by defeating Steven Goncalves by KO in the first round.[26][27]

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.[28] Topuria won the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Topuria faced Damon Jackson on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori.[30] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[31]

Topuria faced Ryan Hall on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264.[32] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[33]

Topuria was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270.[34] However, Evloev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and [35] was replaced by Charles Jourdain.[36] However, Topuria was pulled from the card due to a medical issue related to cutting weight and the bout was cancelled.[37]

Topuria faced Jai Herbert, replacing Mike Davis, on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204.[38] Topuria suffered a knockdown from a head kick in round one, but recovered and won the fight via knockout in round two.[39] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[40]

Topuria was scheduled to face Edson Barboza on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213.[41] However, Barboza withdrew in late September due to a knee injury and the bout was cancelled.

Topuria faced Bryce Mitchell on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282.[42] He won the fight via submission in round two.[43] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[44]

Topuria was initially scheduled to face Josh Emmett on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47.[45] However, the promotion later announced that the bout was shifted to headline UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria on June 24, 2023.[46] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[47] The bout earned him the Fight of the Night award.[48]

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.[49] 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.[50] As a result, Topuria vs. Volkanovski was pushed back one month to headline UFC 298 on February 17, 2024.[51] Topuria won the featherweight championship via knockout in the second round, ending Volkanovski's four-year reign as champion.[52] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[53]

Topuria defended his UFC Featherweight Championship against former champion Max Holloway on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308.[54] He won the fight by knockout in the third round, leading to the first knockout loss of Holloway's career.[55] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[56]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Personal life

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

Topuria speaks fluent Georgian language and also speaks a bit of Mingrelian.[58][59][60] Topuria and his partner have a son (born 2019) and daughter (born 2024).[61][62]

On March 5, 2024, Topuria obtained Spanish citizenship after it was announced at the Council of Ministers press conference.[2][63]

On March 21, 2024, Topuria was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia in Orbeliani Palace, Tbilisi, Georgia.[64] 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.[1]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches 16 wins 0 losses
By knockout 6 0
By submission 8 0
By decision 2 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 16–0 Max Holloway KO (punches) UFC 308 October 26, 2024 3 1:34 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Defended the UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 15–0 Alexander Volkanovski KO (punch) UFC 298 February 17, 2024 2 3:32 Anaheim, California, United States Won the UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 14–0 Josh Emmett Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria June 24, 2023 5 5:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 13–0 Bryce Mitchell Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 282 December 10, 2022 2 3:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Return to Featherweight. Performance of the Night.
Win 12–0 Jai Herbert KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall March 19, 2022 2 1:07 London, England Lightweight debut. Performance of the Night.
Win 11–0 Ryan Hall KO (punches) UFC 264 July 10, 2021 1 4:47 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 10–0 Damon Jackson KO (punch) UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori December 5, 2020 1 2:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–0 Youssef Zalal Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen October 11, 2020 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 8–0 Stephen Goncalves KO (punches) Brave CF 29 November 15, 2019 1 3:42 Isa Town, Bahrain
Win 7–0 Luis Gomez Submission (triangle straight armbar) Brave CF 26 September 7, 2019 1 1:15 Bogotá, Colombia Return to Featherweight.
Win 6–0 Brian Bouland Technical Submission (anaconda choke) Cage Warriors 94 June 16, 2018 1 1:39 Antwerp, Belgium For the vacant Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship; Topuria missed weight (139.4 lb) and was ineligible to win the title.
Win 5–0 Mika Hämäläinen Submission (guillotine choke) CAGE 43 April 28, 2018 1 3:35 Helsinki, Finland Bantamweight debut.
Win 4–0 Jhon Guarin Submission (guillotine choke) Mix Fight Events 28 November 5, 2016 2 2:50 Valencia, Spain Won the vacant MFE Featherweight Championship.
Win 3–0 Daniel Vasquez Submission (rear-naked choke) Mix Fight Events 26 May 7, 2016 1 1:50 Alicante, Spain Catchweight (141 lb) bout.
Win 2–0 Kalil Martin El Chalibi Submission (rear-naked choke) Climent Show MMA 4 May 9, 2015 1 1:03 Alicante, Spain
Win 1–0 Francisco Javier Asprilla Submission (triangle choke) Mix Fight Events 17 April 4, 2015 1 3:30 Valencia, Spain Featherweight debut.

[65]

Pay-per-view bouts

No. Event Fight Date Venue City PPV Buys
1. UFC 298 Volkanovski vs. Topuria February 17, 2024 Honda Center Anaheim, California, United States Not Disclosed[66]
2. UFC 308 Topuria vs. Holloway October 26, 2024 Etihad Arena Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Not Disclosed[67]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "კობახიძის თქმით, მნიშვნელოვანია, ილია თოფურიას საქართველოს მოქალაქეობა შეუნარჩუნდეს". radiotavisupleba (in ge). 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-07-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ a b c "El Gobierno concede la nacionalidad española a Ilia Topuria". El Español (in Spanish). 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
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  9. ^ 3.25.21 UFC-ში ილია თოფურიას მომდევნო მეტოქე ცნობილია Archived 2022-07-05 at the Wayback Machine Imedi Media Holding
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  58. ^ “ქართული კი არა, ცოტა მეგრულიც ვიცი...“, MCM: 19 February 2024
  59. ^ "ქართული რომ არ ვიცოდე მოსაკლავი ვიქნებოდი, ქართველმა კაცმა, ქართული უნდა იცოდეს, ცოტა მეგრულიც ვიცი" - რა უპასუხა ილია თოფურიამ ქართველი გულშემატკივრის შეკითხვას?
  60. ^ Ilia Topuria #WithNoe, Imedi Media Holding, Feb 25, 2024
  61. ^ E. Spencer Kyte (December 1, 2020). "Ilia Topuria Wants The World To Know His Name". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  62. ^ Sanchez, Josh (2024-10-26). "Ilia Topuria wife Giorgina Uzcategui Badell stuns in all-black dress victory fit". The Athlete Lifestyle On SI. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  63. ^ "Ilia Topuria ya es español: el Gobierno le concede la nacionalidad al campeón de la UFC". Diario ABC (in Spanish). 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  64. ^ "პრეზიდენტმა ილია თოფურია ღირსების ორდენით დააჯილდოვა". რადიო თავისუფლება (in Georgian). 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
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  66. ^ "UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria | MMA Event". Tapology.
  67. ^ "UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway | MMA Event".
Awards and achievements
Preceded by 6th UFC Featherweight Champion
February 17, 2024 – present 		Incumbent
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