Ilia Topuria, a professional mixed martial artist since 2015, has made a significant impact in the world of MMA, particularly in the featherweight division. His record is punctuated by a mix of KO and submission victories, showcasing his versatile attack style that leaves opponents guessing. With five wins by KO and eight by submission, Topuria’s technique is as varied as it is deadly. His submission wins have run the gamut from triangle chokes, rear-naked chokes, guillotines, anaconda chokes, triangle armbars, to arm triangles.
Early Fight Finishes
Topuria has a penchant for finishing fights early, as evidenced by his nine first-round finishes. His ruthless efficiency and precision have earned him a reputation for being a relentless and formidable adversary.
UFC Featherweight Title Victory
At UFC 298 on February 17, 2024, Topuria made his mark in the MMA history books by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at 3:32 of the second round to win the UFC Featherweight title. This victory, a testament to Topuria’s power and skill, solidified his place as a top contender in the featherweight division.
Recent Impressive Victories
Prior to this, Topuria had been steadily building his resume with a string of impressive victories. At UFC on ABC on June 24, 2023, he won a five-round unanimous decision over Josh Emmett. Before that, in UFC 282 on December 10, 2022, he submitted Bryce Mitchell via arm triangle choke at 3:10 of the second round.
Early Career Highlights
Earlier in his career, Topuria had already been demonstrating his prowess with wins like his knockout of Jai Herbert at 1:07 of the second round during UFC Fight Night on March 19, 2022, and his first-round KO of Ryan Hall at 4:47 during UFC 264 on July 10, 2021.
Additional Career Achievements
Topuria’s journey throughout his career has been nothing short of spectacular. From his unanimous decision win over Youssef Zalal during UFC Fight Night on October 10, 2020, to his first-round knockout of Damon Jackson at 2:38 during UFC on ESPN on December 5, 2020, Topuria has shown time and again that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Octagon. His unique blend of power, precision, and versatility make him a captivating fighter to watch, and an even more challenging opponent to face.