Déjà vu for the Topuria brothers

Aleksandre Topuria may soon find himself face-to-face with a fighter his brother Ilia already conquered—American featherweight Bryce Mitchell.

The Spanish-Georgian rising star made a strong UFC debut this past February, dominating Colby Thicknesse and showcasing elite skills in the octagon after a two-year hiatus from competition. Despite being a key figure in Ilia “El Matador” Topuria’s training camp, Aleksandre had remained behind the scenes—until now.

Mitchell aiming to bounce back

With no official opponent lined up, speculation is swirling that Aleksandre’s next bout could be against Mitchell, who recently made a successful bantamweight debut at UFC Abu Dhabi. Mitchell, still stinging from his 2022 loss to Ilia—who submitted him in a high-profile clash—is reportedly hungry for redemption. And with a rematch against Ilia off the table, Mitchell has set his sights on the older Topuria brother.

Sources close to Mitchell suggest he’s eager to settle the score, and a showdown with Aleksandre would undoubtedly generate serious buzz among MMA fans. For Aleksandre, a win over Mitchell wouldn’t just be personal—it could catapult “El Conquistador” into the bantamweight rankings and reignite fan interest across the US and beyond.

Bryce Mitchell hasn’t let go of his 2022 defeat at the hands of Ilia Topuria—and he’s making sure people know it. In a candid moment before his recent bout against Said Nurmagomedov, the Arkansas native opened up about the lingering frustration from that fight, claiming he stepped into the octagon that night battling a fever.

“That fight will stick with me for the rest of my career,” Mitchell admitted. “Ilia’s not invincible. I gave him a black eye when I could barely lift my arms. If I’d been healthy, I would’ve given him two.”

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