Ex-UFC champion Ilia Topuria says he will return around April 2027
The gist
Spanish former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria said he plans to return around April 2027.
He is recovering from orbital, nose and foot fractures after his first loss.
How it unfolded
- Jun 14, 2026Topuria lost the UFC lightweight championship fight to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, the first loss of his MMA career.
- Nov 3, 2026Topuria posted photos of the Didgori Battle Memorial in Georgia with the message "I returned to where it all began... The Matador is coming back."
- Nov 4, 2026UFC CEO Dana White told Jim Rome: "He'll be back in 2027. We're working on that too."
Key terms
- UFC
- An American mixed martial arts promotion company that organizes fights across weight divisions under unified rules.
- lightweight
- A weight class in combat sports, in MMA generally grouping fighters between about 146 and 155 pounds.
- MMA
- A full-contact combat sport combining striking and grappling techniques from many martial arts.
Source: Wikipedia