Spanish mixed martial artist (born 1997)
Ilia Topuria (Georgian : ილია თოფურია ;[ 4] born January 21, 1997) is a Georgian and Spanish professional mixed martial artist . He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he officially represents his native Georgia[ 5] . As of February 18, 2024, he is the undefeated UFC Featherweight Champion .[ 6]
Background Topuria was born in Halle Westfalen , Germany[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] to Georgian parents.[ 3] At the age of seven he moved to Georgia with his family where he started practicing Greco-Roman Wrestling at school.[ 3] At the age of 15 he moved to live in Alicante in Spain, where he started practicing martial arts at the Climent Club.[ 11] In 2015, he made his debut as a professional in local competitions.[ 12] [ 3]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career After starting his career with 4 straight submission wins on the Spanish regional scene and winning a belt in Mix Fight Events promotion. In 2018 he made his first international fight in Cage MMA Finland.[ 13] 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.[ 14]
In 2019 he signed with Brave Combat Federation . Ilia made his debut in the promotion in Bogota, Colombia ,[ 15] defeating opponent Luis Gomez in the first round by submission;[ 16] which leads him to get the award for best performance of the night.[ 17] On November 15, 2019, in Bahrain, he won his second fight in BRAVE by defeating Steven Goncalves by KO in the first round.[ 18] [ 19]
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 .[ 20] Topuria won the fight via unanimous decision.[ 21]
Topuria faced Damon Jackson on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori .[ 22] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[ 23]
Topuria faced Ryan Hall on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264 .[ 24] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[ 25]
Topuria was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270 .[ 26] However, Evloev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and [ 27] was replaced by Charles Jourdain .[ 28] However, Topuria was pulled from the card due to a medical issue related to cutting weight and the bout was cancelled.[ 29]
Topuria faced Jai Herbert , replacing Mike Davis , on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204 .[ 30] Topuria suffered a knockdown from a head kick in round one, but recovered and won the fight via knockout in round two.[ 31] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[ 32]
Topuria was scheduled to face Edson Barboza on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213 .[ 33] 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 .[ 34] He won the fight via submission in round two.[ 35] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[ 36]
Topuria was initially scheduled to face Josh Emmett on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47 .[ 37] However, the promotion later announced that the bout was shifted to headline UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria on June 24, 2023.[ 38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[ 39] The bout earned him the Fight of the Night award.[ 40]
Topuria was scheduled to face Alexander Volkanovski on January 20, 2024, for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 297 .[ 41] However, Volkanovski was instead pulled to face Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 294 .[ 42] As a result, this fight was pushed back one month to headline UFC 298 .[ 43]
On February 17, 2024, at UFC 298, Topuria claimed the UFC featherweight title by defeating Volkanovski with a second-round stoppage. This victory marked the end of Volkanovski's four-year reign as the featherweight champion.[ 44] [ 45] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[ 46]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Personal life A video surfaced on January 4, 2023, that showed a man shoving Topuria a few times, which was unprovoked, in a bar in Spain, and Topuria retaliating with a few punches before the scuffle was broken up.[ 48]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
15 matches
15 wins
0 losses
By knockout
5
0
By submission
8
0
By decision
2
0
Res.
Record
Opponent
Method
Event
Date
Round
Time
Location
Notes
Win
15–0
Alexander Volkanovski
KO (punch)
UFC 298
February 17, 2024
2
3:32
Anaheim , California , United States
For 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 Hamalainen
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 2
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
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)
West Coast Warriors
April 4, 2015
1
3:30
Valencia , Spain
Featherweight debut.
[ 49]
See also
References
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^ a b c d Ariel Helwani (January 20, 2022). Ilia Topuria Explains How MMA Career Began By Skipping School - MMA Fighting . Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via YouTube.
^ 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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External links
Updated to 27 August 2024