Ilia Topuria
21 stories covering Ilia Topuria — news, results and analysis.
Behind the Cam: Topuria Told His Corner He 'Could Barely See' vs Gaethje
The UFC's commentary-free cut of Justin Gaethje's White House upset reveals how close the doctor came to waving it off in round three.
Oct 9, 2026
Paddy Pimblett Pitches a TUF Season Opposite Ilia Topuria
Pimblett wants to coach against rival Ilia Topuria and swears the pairing could out-draw TUF 10 — the last season anyone really remembers.
Oct 6, 2026
Renato Moicano Wants Topuria Next: 'He Needs an Easy Fight'
The veteran says a broken-confidence Topuria, 17-1 before Gaethje, needs a rebound bout — and Moicano's happy to volunteer. For the right price.
Oct 2, 2026
Paddy Pimblett Wants Topuria Next — and Promises a McGregor-Aldo Repeat
Fresh off a 52-second submission of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, Pimblett says he'd finish Ilia Topuria as fast as McGregor's 13-second blitz of Jose Aldo.
Oct 2, 2026
Jose Aldo Has One Piece of Advice for Conor McGregor: Drop to 155
Aldo says the 22-7 McGregor still has the frame for lightweight — and reckons the division is wide open enough for him to grab a title shot.
Sep 29, 2026
Gaethje Sets the Record Straight on How He Beat Topuria at the White House
The new lightweight champ says Topuria's corner made the call after four rounds — not the fighter himself. Now Arman Tsarukyan is next in line.
Sep 27, 2026
Gaethje Says Topuria's Too Small for 155 — and Tsarukyan Is Next in Line
The new champ handed Topuria the first loss of his career, then said 'El Matador' belongs at 145 and can't beat #2-ranked Arman Tsarukyan.
Sep 23, 2026
Arman Tsarukyan Shrugs Off Ruffy's A-List Camp Ahead of UFC 331
The #2 lightweight is on a five-fight streak and says Volkanovski and Adesanya can't fix what he'll do to Mauricio Ruffy in LA.
Sep 17, 2026
Ilia Topuria Says He's Medically Cleared — and Ready to Fight Again
The former champ posted his medical all-clear after a fourth-round doctor stoppage against Justin Gaethje, and he's already picking targets.
Sep 16, 2026
Nate Diaz Calls Ilia Topuria a 'Punching Bag' After UFC White House Loss
Diaz went after El Matador following his June defeat to Justin Gaethje — the first loss of Topuria's career and the end of his lightweight reign.
Sep 15, 2026
Justin Gaethje Explains the Footwork Read That Cracked Ilia Topuria
The new lightweight champ says Topuria's rhythm never changed. Gaethje handed the ex-champ his first pro loss with a fourth-round TKO at UFC White House.
Sep 9, 2026
Gaethje vs. Topuria 2? Jon Anik Bets on a White House Rematch
Anik says internal UFC talks are pointing toward running Gaethje-Topuria back — despite Gaethje ruling out any fight until 2027.
Sep 6, 2026
Ilia Topuria Breaks Silence After First Career Loss to Gaethje
Topuria, 17-1, resurfaced online for the first time since Justin Gaethje ended his unbeaten run at UFC White House with a fourth-round TKO.
Sep 4, 2026
Tsarukyan Wants Five Lightweight Title Defenses to Top Makhachev
The #2 lightweight says he'll chase at least five defenses to break Islam Makhachev's divisional record — but first he has Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on Sept. 19.
Sep 1, 2026
Justin Gaethje's Broken Hands Mean No Title Fight Until 2027
The UFC lightweight champ went 2-0 in six months but says he still can't punch anything. Both hands are wrecked after stopping Topuria in Round 4.
Aug 30, 2026
Paddy Pimblett Draws a Line: Respect for Topuria, None for Tsarukyan
The Liverpudlian says he'd 'terrorize' Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan if they fought, but he's picking his targets carefully at 155.
Aug 20, 2026
Tsarukyan Says Topuria Needs a Chandler Tune-Up Before Title Return
The No. 2 lightweight thinks Ilia Topuria needs an 'easy' comeback fight after his 17-0 run ended against Justin Gaethje. His pick? Michael Chandler.
Aug 19, 2026
Malki Kawa Rips Ali Abdelaziz: 'Topuria Would Annihilate Your Roster'
Topuria's manager says his 17-1 client still tops his P4P list — even after losing his belt to Justin Gaethje in June's White House main event.
Aug 9, 2026
Matt Brown Says Retirement Talk Around Justin Gaethje Is Nonsense
Gaethje shocked Ilia Topuria as a huge underdog to grab the lightweight belt. Brown says walking away now would leave the biggest paydays of his career on the table.
Jul 28, 2026
Magomed Zaynukov Runs Record to 10-0 With Statement UFC Debut in Abu Dhabi
The Team Nurmagomedov prospect shut out fellow unbeaten Damian Rzepecki 30-27 across all three cards — then aimed a jab at Ilia Topuria.
Jul 25, 2026
Will Justin Gaethje Retire as Champion? Jon Anik Thinks So
Anik points to 'maternal pressure' after Gaethje's fourth-round finish of Ilia Topuria at the White House. Sound familiar?
Jul 25, 2026