about 3 hours ago

Ilia Topuria Went From ‘BJJ Practitioner’ to UFC Pound-for-Pound Star

In his 2020 debut, announcers introduced Topuria simply as “a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.” Four years later, he’s the undefeated lightweight and ex-featherweight champion who knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway in back-to-back fights. From grappler to global superstar, Topuria’s evolution has cemented him as one of the UFC’s most feared and marketable (number 1) pound-for-pound fighters today.