Ilia Topuria is extra centered than ever and has even greater plans for 2026. At present, Topria is taking a break from preventing as she is making ready for divorce. The Georgian-Spanish is scheduled to return to the Octagon after the primary quarter of 2026.
In 2025, “El Matador” vacates the featherweight championship in pursuit of light-weight gold. Topria moved as much as light-weight in hopes of preventing Islam Makhachev, who was the 155-pound champion on the time. Nevertheless, Makhachev withdrew and moved as much as welterweight.
Topuria then knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to assert the vacant title.
After his win at UFC 317, Topria confronted long-time rival Paddy Pimblett. There have been rumors of “El Matador” vs. “The Buddy” subsequent. Nevertheless, as a result of Topuria’s hiatus, the promotion introduced an interim title battle between Justin Gaethje and Pimblett to headline UFC 324.
The winner of the Gaethje vs. Pimblett bout will face Topuria in a title unification bout later this 12 months. ‘El Matador’ subsequent defends his title in opposition to Pimblett, after which plans to step up and battle Makhachev for his third belt. He additionally desires to usurp the Russian throne and reclaim the P4P throne.
Ilya Topria’s message to followers on New 12 months’s Eve: “I’ll proceed to do even greater issues”
On New 12 months’s Eve, “El Matador” shared a photograph of himself holding each of his UFC belts, telling followers that he’s extra centered than ever in 2026 and that even greater issues are on the horizon. He posted:
“This 12 months has been a journey filled with unbelievable victories and sudden twists. Typically life deviates from the state of affairs we had imagined, however it’s exactly in these twists and turns that essentially the most helpful classes and true surprises emerge. I cherish each second with my household and can by no means remorse it. I’ve discovered to not, as a result of the most effective is all the time but to come back. And though I’ve completed loads this 12 months, I am extra centered than ever. In 2026, the most effective is but to be written.”
Try Ilia Topuria’s remark under.
