Ilia Topuria News

Curtis Calhoun - November 21, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top contender Paddy Pimblett exchanged barbs while at the UFC Qatar weigh-ins. Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett could be on the verge of squaring off in the Octagon in 2026. After Topuria secured the UFC lightweight title at UFC 317, he and his longtime rival Pimblett faced off before things got physical and nearly escalated into a chaotic scene.

Curtis Calhoun - November 18, 2025

Manager Ali Abdelaziz says Ilia Topuria could suffer a similar fate as Dillon Danis if he continues to taunt Islam Makhachev. Just before Islam Makhachev won a second UFC title at UFC 322 over Jack Della Maddalena, members of his team were escorted out of Madison Square Garden after getting into a brawl with Dillon Danis cageside. The incident happened after months of bad blood between Danis, Makhachev, and their respective teams online.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 7, 2025

Paddy Pimblett insists that Ilia Topuria is holding things up as far as the booking of his first UFC lightweight title defense is concerned. Topuria hasn’t fought since June when he knocked Charles Oliveira out to become the 155-pound champion. Top lightweights Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, and Arman Tsarukyan were in attendance to watch the fight. “The Baddy” entered the Octagon following the main event and was shoved by Topuria before security intervened. The two have had beef brewing over the years.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 6, 2025

A well-known UFC lightweight believes he knows who should challenge Ilia Topuria for the 155-pound gold. Topuria hasn’t competed since capturing the title back in June. “El Matador” knocked out Charles Oliveira in the opening frame of the UFC 317 headliner. After the fight, Topuria and Paddy Pimblett traded barbs before being separated by security.

Curtis Calhoun - October 24, 2025

UFC star Justin Gaethje shared a pointed message in response to Paddy Pimblett’s recent claims surrounding an offer on the table to fight Ilia Topuria. Justin Gaethje remains insistent that he’s the most deserving challenger for UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s first title defense in 2026. Gaethje, who hasn’t fought since a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, has repeatedly drawn a line in the sand surrounding his Octagon return.

Harry Kettle - October 23, 2025

UFC star Paddy Pimblett believes that Ilia Topuria is stalling over a potential lightweight title showdown between them. For the longest time, Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria have been embroiled in a rivalry. The two have disliked each other for as long as we can remember, and they even got into a physical altercation prior to them fighting on the same UFC London card a few years back.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 20, 2025

UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria has looked dominant inside the Octagon, but can one strategy halt “El Matador’s” momentum? Many are wondering what’s next for Topuria after he knocked out Charles Oliveira in the first round of their title fight back in June to capture the 155-pound gold. Topuria has already secured championships in two different weight classes, and he’s done so with his boxing.

Curtis Calhoun - October 17, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria wants fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvili to take on his former featherweight rival in pursuit of a second UFC title. Ilia Topuria became the latest two-division UFC champ when he knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earlier this year. After vacating the featherweight throne, Topuria successfully moved up to lightweight and cemented himself as the pound-for-pound king.

Cole Shelton - October 7, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is avoiding him, as he knows he’s a difficult matchup. Tsarukyan is coming off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira back in April of 2024 to become the No. 1 contender. However,  injuries have kept him on the sidelines as he will now headline UFC Qatar against Dan Hooker.

Dylan Bowker - October 7, 2025

Ilia Topuria has tipped his cap to fellow Georgian fighter Merab Dvalishvili after the latter’s UFC 320 victory. Dvalishvili notched the third defense of his bantamweight title across a reign that now has many referring to him as MMA’s GOAT at 135 pounds. The 34-year-old bested Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of the promotion’s October 4th pay-per-view offering. It was a historic outing for Dvalishvili who broke a UFC record related to takedowns that he already held going into the card at 97 takedowns overall. That record is one that the Georgian standout kept building on as Dvalishvili left the cage having recorded 117 takedowns as the dust settled on the clash with ‘Sandman’.

Curtis Calhoun - September 29, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley believes Ilia Topuria has already cemented himself as the greatest fighter in MMA history. Before a loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, Sean O’Malley had Ilia Topuria in his sights for a potential clash inside the Octagon. At the time, O’Malley was the UFC’s bantamweight champion, while Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to become the UFC featherweight titleholder.

Cole Shelton - September 24, 2025

Paddy Pimblett would like to go into enemy territory to face Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title. Pimblett and Topuria have had a feud for years, and all signs point to this fight being next. Although it’s a massive fight that could take place in Las Vegas, Pimblett is hopeful the bout happens in Spain as he wants to beat Topuria in front of his fans.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 19, 2025

Ilia Topuria has been calling for a showdown with boxing great Terence Crawford, but one UFC fighter doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Topuria has certainly seen his stock soar thanks to stellar performances against Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira. “El Matador” is a former UFC featherweight titleholder, who vacated the gold to eventually capture the lightweight championship. Many believe Topuria has taken a page out of Conor McGregor’s playbook, and his callout of “Bud” Crawford is an example of that.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 17, 2025

Terence Crawford vs. Ilia Topuria doesn’t seem like a matchup UFC CEO Dana White would want to book, or is it? Crawford dazzled boxing fans with his stellar performance against Canelo Alvarez this past Saturday. While the undisputed super middleweight title fight wasn’t necessarily a wipeout, it was clear that “Bud” got the better of a fellow legend in Alvarez. Crawford further cemented his legacy with a unanimous decision victory, improving his perfect pro boxing record to 42-0.

Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2025

Shakur Stevenson believes Terence Crawford would finish UFC champion Ilia Topuria inside the Octagon. Talks of a potential crossover fight between newly minted super middleweight boxing champion Terence Crawford and UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria have skyrocketed in recent days. Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision in their superfight last weekend to add to his stellar resume.

Curtis Calhoun - September 16, 2025

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier doesn’t believe Ilia Topuria will get his desired fight with Terence Crawford for one controversial reason. Superstar fighters Terence Crawford and Ilia Topuria have added a new high-profile feud to the combat sports world in recent days. After Crawford’s dominant win over Canelo Alvarez last weekend, tensions are escalating between him and the brash UFC star Topuria.

Curtis Calhoun - September 15, 2025

After their recent back-and-forths, boxing superstar Terence Crawford laughed off comparisons between Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor. Terence Crawford added to his spotless legacy by defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision to win Alvarez’s super middleweight titles. Crawford continued his undefeated start to his boxing career and added his name to the GOAT discussion.

Curtis Calhoun - September 11, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria responded to Terence Crawford’s latest remarks about a potential future crossover fight. Tensions are ramping up between UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria and boxing superstar Terence Crawford.