Born in Germany. Raised in Georgia. Built in Spain and undefeated at every level of professional mixed martial arts. Ilia Topuria "El Matador" has not only reached the top of the sport. He has conquered it twice.
Topuria is the UFC Lightweight Champion and a former UFC Featherweight Champion. This puts him among a rare group of fighters who have held titles in two different weight classes, and he is the only one to do it while staying undefeated his entire career.
Who Is Ilia Topuria? Georgian Roots, Spanish Heart
Topuria’s journey to UFC gold is marked by displacement, determination, and a strong belief in himself.
Topuria was born in Halle, Germany, to Georgian parents who left Abkhazia because of conflict. As a young child, he moved to Georgia, where he started training in Greco-Roman wrestling. This sport is important to Georgian national identity and became the base of his fighting career.
When he was fifteen, after the Russo-Georgian War, his family moved to Alicante, Spain. There, Topuria found Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Climent Club gym and later switched to mixed martial arts. In 2018, he and his brother Aleksandre became the first Georgians to earn black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Spain truly became Topuria’s home. He learned the language and built his career there. In 2024, the Council of Ministers gave him Spanish citizenship, recognizing that he had represented the country long before he was officially a citizen. Now, he holds both Georgian and Spanish nationalities.
According to UFC.com, Ilia Topuria is known by the nickname "El Matador," a reflection of his reputation for skill and precision in the Octagon. Over time, the name became a symbol of both his Spanish identity and Georgian roots, as well as his courage to face any challenge. "You cut me and my blood is Georgian," he has said, "but my heart is Spanish."
How Does Ilia Topuria Fight? Style, Striking and Grappling
Topuria goes into every fight as a complete mixed martial artist. He is dangerous when striking, skilled on the ground, and has a finishing instinct that sets him apart from almost anyone else in the sport.
Topuria’s striking has improved a lot since he joined the UFC. He was first known for his submissions, but then developed a boxing-focused stand-up style with accurate shots, smooth combinations, and knockout power. His knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira, all decorated champions, show how much his stand-up game has grown.
On the ground, Topuria’s jiu-jitsu remains a real threat. He has been a black belt since age fifteen and built a wrestling base in Georgia, so he has strong positional awareness and takedown defense. Even when he is winning while standing, his opponents have to watch for submissions, which limits their striking exchanges.
This mix of skills makes him one of the hardest fighters in the world to prepare for.
Where Does Ilia Topuria Train?
Topuria's MMA education began at Climent Club in Alicante, a gym founded by Argentinian brothers Jorge and Agustín Climent, who introduced Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the region and spotted the potential in the young Georgian teenager who walked through their doors. Topuria trained there for more than a decade, and the relationship was central to his development from regional prospect to UFC champion.
As his profile grew, Topuria relocated to Madrid, and in 2025 he and his brother parted ways with Climent Club to establish their own training base in the capital. The split was described by both parties as mutual and respectful. Jorge Climent's own words captured it well: "We go with him on the journey and now he grows, and he wants to fly away. We are very proud." Topuria's boxing coach Javi Climent, who is not affiliated with Climent Club, remained in his corner throughout.
How Ilia Topuria Became a Two-Division UFC Champion
In February 2025, Topuria gave up the featherweight title because making weight was hard and he wanted to compete at lightweight for good. This was a key moment, as he left one championship behind to chase another in a tougher, more physical division.
A few months later, at UFC 317 in June 2025, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in the first round to win the lightweight championship. This made him the first UFC fighter to win two divisional titles and stay undefeated his whole professional career.
His journey from a gym in Alicante to two UFC championships, undefeated, across three countries and a lifetime of change, is unlike anything the sport has seen before.
Is Ilia Topuria the Best Fighter in the World?
The argument has genuine weight.
He has beaten three former world champions by knockout in his last three fights. He has won titles at featherweight and lightweight without ever tasting defeat. No fighter in UFC history has become a two-division champion while remaining undefeated.
His story, built across three countries, shaped by displacement and sacrifice, and driven by steady self-belief, adds something to his profile that goes beyond records and rankings.
The best may still be to come.
Follow Ilia Topuria's journey on his UFC athlete profile. UFC events are available live in the UK on TNT Sports.
