Ilia Topuria News

Max Holloway punched by Ilia Topuria
Max Holloway

Max Holloway discredits Ilia Topuria's winning streak: "They're not looking at the record"

Cole Shelton - July 14, 2025

Max Holloway believes Ilia Topuria’s recent run isn’t as good as people think. Topuria is coming off three-straight knockout wins over Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight belt and lightweight title. However, Holloway believes the names are big, including himself, but none of them were at the peak or on massive winning streaks as they had been in the past.

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway staredown
Max Holloway

Max Holloway shares interesting observation of Ilia Topuria's punching power

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 13, 2025

Max Holloway has felt Ilia Topuria’s punching power, and his assessment might surprise you. Holloway shared the Octagon with Topuria at UFC 308 and ended up suffering his first knockout loss. It was a successful UFC Featherweight Championship defense for “El Matador,” who moved on to capture the lightweight gold by knocking out Chares Oliveira.

Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira
Ilia Topuria

Charles Oliveira explains what he should've done differently against Ilia Topuria

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2025

Charles Oliveira admits he made some mistakes in his title fight against Ilia Topuria. Oliveira and Topuria did battle in the main event of UFC 317. The fight hit the ground, but only momentarily. Once the action returned to the feet, it didn’t take “El Matador” long to put “do Bronx” to sleep with a right hand followed by a left.

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway staredown
Max Holloway

Max Holloway reveals why he's thrilled Ilia Topuria moved up to lightweight

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2025

Max Holloway was quite happy when he heard Ilia Topuria would be making the jump to 155 pounds. Topuria vacated the UFC Featherweight Championship to challenge for the vacant lightweight gold. “El Matador” went one-on-one with Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317. Topuria ended up knocking “do Bronx” out in the opening frame to lay claim to UFC gold in a second weight class.

Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje hopeful for Ilia Topuria fight at MSG: "I would love to knock him out"

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2025

Justin Gaethje is hoping he will face Ilia Topuria at Madison Square Garden later this year. Topuria became the UFC’s lightweight champion with a first-round KO win over Charles Oliveira. After his win, it wasn’t clear who Topuria’s first title defense would be against, as Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and Paddy Pimblett could all get the next title shot.

Ilia Topuria, UFC
UFC

Ilia Topuria reveals he promised UFC he wouldn't move up to welterweight straight away

Harry Kettle - July 7, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has made an interesting revelation regarding a possible move up to welterweight. As we know, Ilia Topuria is the biggest active star in mixed martial arts today – or at the very least, one of them. He has already achieved some incredible things in his career and it would appear as if he has a lot more planned before he calls it a day. He has won belts in two weight classes and if he has his way, he’ll go in pursuit of a third at 170 pounds at some point in the future.

Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett explains how beef with UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria started

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 6, 2025

Paddy Pimblett has detailed how his issues with Ilia Topuria began. Pimblett and Topuria have been at odds since 2021. The two had a physical altercation at a fighter hotel, which saw “The Baddy” throw a hand sanitizer bottle at “El Matador.” The two also nearly came to blows during a press conference in 2022.

Ilia Topuria KO Charles Oliveira at UFC 317
Jon Anik

UFC commentator gushes over Ilia Topuria's run: 'It's almost as if he bends time'

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 3, 2025

One UFC commentator continues to be amazed by the current run Ilia Topuria is on. After knocking out two all-time greats in Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway back-to-back, Topuria decided to relinquish the featherweight gold in an effort to move up to 155 pounds. While some considered it to be a bold move for Topuria, he ended up starching Charles Oliveira in the opening frame to lay claim to the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett

Ilia Topuria calls Paddy Pimblett one of the "easiest fights" at lightweight: "I could choose the way I finish him"

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2025

Ilia Topuria believes Paddy Pimblett would be an easy fight for him, and one of the easiest fights in the division. After Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to win the vacant lightweight title, Pimblett went into the Octagon to face off with him. Although Dana White wasn’t happy that happened, many fans are hoping that is the next fight. But if it is the next fight, Topuria has full confidence that he will win.

Arman Tsarukyan, Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan sends a message to Ilia Topuria: "See you soon"

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan has sent a message to Ilia Topuria as he looks to get the next title shot. Topuria became the UFC’s lightweight champion with a stunning first-round knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Following the win, Paddy Pimblett came into the Octagon to face off with Topuria, but it’s not definitive that he will be next.

Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria has already surpassed Conor McGregor, says former UFC champion

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 2, 2025

A former UFC titleholder believes Ilia Topuria’s run has surpassed Conor McGregor’s. Topuria has dazzled fans with his last three performances. “El Matador” captured the UFC Featherweight Championship by knocking Alexander Volkanovski out. He followed that up by becoming the first fighter to put Max Holloway to sleep. Then, at UFC 317, Topuria scored a first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion.

Ilia Topuria, UFC, MMA
Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria gives his thoughts on possible UFC title fight against Justin Gaethje

Harry Kettle - July 1, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has given his thoughts on a potential title fight against Justin Gaethje. Last weekend, Ilia Topuria cemented his position as the #1 pound for pound fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was able to defeat Charles Oliveira to capture the lightweight title, joining a small group of people who have been able to win belts in two different divisions.

Ilia Topuria, UFC, MMA
UFC

Fighter claims he had to stop sparring with UFC star Ilia Topuria: 'Thank God my head is fine'

BJ Penn Staff - June 30, 2025

New two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria hits so hard that his fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvili—also a UFC champ—had to stop sparring with him. Topuria was back in action at UFC 317 last Saturday. He knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight belt in the main event. His lightweight title win followed a brief reign at featherweight, where he scored two similarly stunning KOs against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev, Kamaru Usman, UFC, tony ferguson
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev's coach explains why Jack Della Maddalena is a tougher matchup than Ilia Topuria

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2025

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev, believes his fighter is taking the hardest fight possible. Makhachev vacated his lightweight title to move up to welterweight to face Jack Della Maddalena. It’s an intriguing matchup, but after Ilia Topuria won at UFC 317, many fans want Makhachev back at 155lbs to face Topuria.

Sean O'Malley, Ilia Topuria
Sean O'Malley

Sean O'Malley stunned by Ilia Topuria's KO win at UFC 317: "Thank God he didn’t accept my callout"

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2025

Sean O’Malley is glad he never got the chance to fight Ilia Topuria. While O’Malley and Topuria were UFC champions, ‘Suga’ had been calling out the Georgian-Spaniard for a champ-champ fight. It would have been one of the biggest fights in recent memory, but it didn’t come to fruition.

Ilia Topuria press conference
Islam Makhachev

Joe Rogan names one fighter who should be Ilia Topuria's next opponent after UFC 317

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 30, 2025

Joe Rogan has one name who he thinks Ilia Topuria should be matched with following UFC 317. Topuria went one-on-one with Charles Oliveira in the main event of Saturday’s PPV card. The two collided for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. The fight hit the mat briefly before Oliveira was stood back up. Once the action resumed on the feet, Topuria clocked Oliveira with a right hook, followed by a left for the knockout victory.

Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan hurls ducking claims at UFC 317 winner Ilia Topuria

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is already avoiding him. Topuria just scored his third knockout victory in a row against another future UFC Hall of Famer. He went one-on-one with Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. “El Matador” capped off UFC 317 in Las Vegas with a first-round knockout victory.

Ilia Topuria knocks out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317
Ilia Topuria

Dana White left in awe following Ilia Topuria's sensational UFC 317 title win

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Dana White was just as impressed as anyone who witnessed Ilia Topuria starch Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Topuria and Oliveira fought for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship this past Saturday in Las Vegas. “El Matador” was moving up in weight following his reign with UFC featherweight gold. After Topuria avoided a leg submission attempt from “do Bronx,” he delivered some leg kicks as Oliveira was on his back before referee Marc Goddard ensured the fight returned to the feet. Shortly after, Topuria slept Oliveira with a right hook, followed by a left.