# Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria (Georgian: ილია თოფურია; born January 21, 1997) is a Georgian and Spanish 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 the first Georgian fighter to win a UFC championship. As of March 11, 2025, he is #3 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

## Background

Topuria was born in Halle Westfalen, Germany. to Georgian parents who were refugees from Abkhazia. At the age of seven, Topuria moved to Georgia with his family and started practicing Greco-Roman wrestling at a local school. After the Russo-Georgian War, at the age of 15, they once again relocated, this time to Alicante, Spain. In 2015, he made his debut as a professional in local competitions. Topuria has an older brother, Aleksandre Topuria, who is also a professional mixed martial artist signed to the UFC.
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 Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in 2024. Topuria's execution of boxing is strategic, using his footwork and positioning to set up clean, fight-altering punches. 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.

## 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. 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.
In 2019, he signed with Brave Combat Federation. Ilia made his promotional debut in Bogotá, Colombia, defeating Luis Gomez in the first round by submission; 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.

### 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. Topuria won the fight via unanimous decision.
Topuria faced Damon Jackson on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori. He won the fight via knockout in round one.
Topuria faced Ryan Hall on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264. He won the fight via knockout in round one.
Topuria was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. However, Evloev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Charles Jourdain. However, Topuria was pulled from the card due to a medical issue related to cutting weight and the bout was cancelled.
Topuria faced Jai Herbert, replacing Mike Davis, on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204. Topuria suffered a knockdown from a head kick in round one, but recovered and won the fight via knockout in round two. With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.
Topuria was scheduled to face Edson Barboza on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213. 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. He won the fight via submission in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Topuria was initially scheduled to face Josh Emmett on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47. However, the promotion later announced that the bout was shifted to headline UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria on June 24, 2023. He won the fight via unanimous decision. The bout earned him the Fight of the Night award.

#### 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. 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. As a result, Topuria vs. Volkanovski was pushed back one month to headline UFC 298 on February 17, 2024. Topuria won the featherweight championship via knockout in the second round, ending Volkanovski's four-year reign as champion. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Topuria defended his UFC Featherweight Championship against former champion Max Holloway on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308. He won the fight by knockout in the third round, leading to the first knockout loss of Holloway's career. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

#### Vacating Title

Despite rumors of a rematch between Topuria and Volkanovski, on February 19, 2025, it was announced that Topuria will vacate the Featherweight championship as soon as the featherweight championship main event at UFC 314 starts. 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.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC Featherweight Championship (One time, current)
*** One successful title defense
*** First Georgian champion in UFC history
** Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Jai Herbert, Bryce Mitchell, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway
** Fight of the Night (One Time) vs. Josh Emmett
** UFC Honors Awards
*** 2024: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Alexander Volkanovski & President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Max Holloway
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2020: Ranked #8 Newcomer of the Year
*** 2022: Ranked #7 Knockout of the Year vs. Jai Herbert & Ranked #9 Submission of the Year vs. Bryce Mitchell
*** 2024: Fighter of the Year (Tied with Alex Pereira), Ranked #2 Knockout of the Year vs. Max Holloway & Ranked #6 Knockout of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski
* Mix Fight Events
** MFE Featherweight Championship (One time)
* MMAjunkie.com
** 2022 December Submission of the Month vs. Bryce Mitchell

## Personal life

Topuria speaks fluent Georgian language and also speaks a bit of Mingrelian. Topuria and his partner have a son (born 2019) and daughter (born 2024).
Topuria is a Christian.
Topuria's older brother Aleksandre, also a mixed martial artist, debuted with the UFC in February 2025 at UFC 312.
On March 5, 2024, Topuria obtained Spanish citizenship after it was announced at the Council of Ministers press conference.
On March 21, 2024, Topuria was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia in Orbeliani Palace, Tbilisi, Georgia. 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.

## 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. |

## 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 |
| 2. | UFC 308 | Topuria vs. Holloway | October 26, 2024 | Etihad Arena | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Not Disclosed |