The Rise of Ilia Topuria (And the Night He Finally Lost)

By June 2026, Ilia Topuria was 17-0 and a two-division UFC champion. Before his biggest fights, he said he would knock out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. Then he did. Then, at the White House, Justin Gaethje did what no one else could. This is the story of Ilia Topuria: from the mountain pass his mother crossed on foot during the 1993 war in Abkhazia, to a childhood in Georgia apart from his parents, to setting out sun loungers on a beach in Alicante, to the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles. And the night his certainty finally broke. Chapters 00:00 The Night He Lost 01:12 A War in Georgia 02:44 Growing Up Without His Parents 04:04 Alicante 05:11 The Man With the Broken Ears 06:43 Going Pro: 8-0 07:17 Eight Days' Notice 08:32 London: Topuria vs Herbert 09:47 UFC 298: Topuria vs Volkanovski 11:00 Spain and Georgia 11:58 UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway 12:39 UFC 317: Topuria vs Oliveira 13:46 Time Away 14:09 UFC White House: Topuria vs Gaethje 15:43 The Comeback Watch next: Joshua Van: The World Will Know of Us    • Joshua Van: The World Will Know of Us   Sources: UFC.com, Wikipedia, Sherdog, ESPN, El Español, Kviris Palitra, BOE, Alicante City Council, CBS Sports, theScore. Fight footage and audio are used for commentary and documentary purposes. All rights belong to their respective owners. Subscribe for more fighter documentaries. #IliaTopuria #UFC #MMA