Ilia Topuria reveals the one thing he wants to do before retirement

Ilia Topuria welcomed the Spanish press during media day for UFC 317 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, ahead of his fight against Charles Oliveira. He has the chance to continue making history and become a double champion—this time by claiming the lightweight belt.

“It always motivates me to see so many Spaniards supporting me before the fight. It’s something I truly appreciate,” said the Spanish-Georgian, expressing his gratitude.

“El Matador” moved up from featherweight to 155 pounds—a change that has done wonders for him. His punch is ferocious, and he’s in top physical condition. Just looking at him is intimidating.

‘We’ll have fun—and I’ll win’

“These extra 10 pounds have given me life,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed this camp much more than the previous ones. I’ve said before that at one point, I started to kind of hate the sport because of the weight cuts. I was going through a tough time, and I felt I had to make a decision—so I changed divisions.”

His opponent, Charles Oliveira, is another legend on a growing list that already includes Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.

“The most dangerous thing is that he might not make weight,” Topuria said. “If he does, we’ll have fun—and I’ll win. I respect everyone. I know they’re the best in the world, but I represent the next level.”

Oliveira, a former lightweight champion, has already faced the division’s biggest names. But Topuria sees openings:

“I see a lot of weaknesses in Charles. He has a lot of professional flaws. It’s not personal—it’s what we do. I’m going to expose them.”

The Brazilian is known for his aggressive style and will lean on his experience inside the Octagon.

Topuria reveals Spain plan

“He has nothing to lose. I believe him when he says he’ll come forward from the very first second. But wanting something is one thing—getting it is another. I want to go to heaven too, but I’m not ready to die,” Topuria added with a grin.

Even before becoming a champion, Topuria had urged the UFC to bring an event to Spain so he could fight in front of his home crowd. While 2025 initially seemed like the year it would happen, delays have persisted, and no date has been set.

“All I know is that they’re negotiating a new deal,” he explained. “They want to promote the idea that when the UFC comes to Europe, it will run in prime time for that country—not for the U.S.—so it can be scheduled locally. That’s been the biggest issue.”

The time difference is a major sticking point. In countries like the UK, events are still scheduled according to U.S. prime time—a setup that doesn’t sit well with Topuria.

“If I had pushed for it, maybe we would’ve had a UFC event in Spain already—but at four or five in the morning. I don’t think anyone would’ve really enjoyed it, and it’s not something I wanted either. I don’t want kids getting up at that hour to watch a fight. It just doesn’t feel right. I’ve had to wait. But I’m not retiring until I fight in Spain.”

Just days before the event, it was confirmed that Arman Tsarukyan, the division’s No. 1 contender, would serve as the backup in case either Topuria or Oliveira had to withdraw. The two have already exchanged words online.

“I told him the truth: You can’t take a short-notice fight against two of the best in the world who are fully prepared, physically and mentally. You don’t even know who you’ll face. If he has to step in, he’ll come in with no strategy—unless he’s trying to clean up some of his past mistakes. They might as well hand him a mop,” Topuria joked.

Tsarukyan was originally set to fight Islam Makhachev for the title in January, but a back injury forced him out just a day before the bout. UFC president Dana White later told him he’d have to earn his shot again.

“I don’t think they’ll give him a title shot,” Topuria said. “He’s not a worthy contender. When I missed weight, I got punished. He should be held to the same standard.”

Tsarukyan recently said he sees the Topuria–Oliveira fight as a 50-50 matchup. Topuria’s response?

“I don’t care.”

He also made it clear he won’t be interested in fighting Tsarukyan if the Russian loses his planned move up to welterweight against Jack Della Maddalena.

Related stories

NBA

Behind the deal that saw Cooper Flagg move to the Mavericks

NBA

Understanding the NBA's rookie scale salary

“If he loses, I’m not giving him anything. Let him get in line,” Topuria concluded.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.