Latest news with #ElMatador
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
UFC star enraged by brutal snub ahead of Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira fight
The UFC stars are set to clash for the vacant lightweight title next month in Las Vegas, but one fighter has been left enraged after being brutally snubbed UFC commentator Jon Anik has revealed that lightweight star Justin Gaethje was "p****d" after Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira was announced. The fight is scheduled for June 28 at UFC 317, following Islam Makhachev's decision to vacate the title and move up to welterweight, eyeing an immediate title shot against new king Jack Della Maddalena later in the year. After giving up the featherweight belt earlier this year, Topuria is now jumping straight into another title fight as he aims to become a two-division champion. While fans are buzzing over the bout, Gaethje feels snubbed, believing he should have been competing for gold next month. "He was p****d," Anik said on The Anik and Florian Podcast. "He feels like certainly he was passed over in favour of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria. I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next. Because it's 19 May, and the good news for this Topuria-Oliveira fight is that it's f******g 28 June – it's less than six weeks away. "So, I don't think it's a mad request for Justin, having done what he did against Rafael Fiziev: staying on the fight card, not fighting Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 result." Anik was referring to Gaethje's victory over Fiziev earlier this year - a bout that saw the 'Highlight' compete following Dan Hooker's withdrawal. The American returned to winning ways after a crushing last-minute knockout loss to Max Holloway. "And by the way, he fought [Holloway] at UFC 300 to help the UFC," Anik added. "He could have fought for the undisputed championship at that point in time, so I wouldn't be surprised if Gaethje gets some sort of guarantee that he's next for the Topuria-Oliveira winner. But I can just tell you Justin was not thrilled." With only weeks remaining until the lightweight title fight, Topuria recently stunned the MMA world when it emerged that he has parted ways with his lifelong coaches, Agustin and Jorge Climent. With the 28-year-old deep into his training camp, the news comes as a real shock. The two brothers run Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, where 'El Matador' and his brother Aleksandre Topuria have trained since the start of their MMA careers. After clinching the featherweight title last year, Topuria decided to relocate to Madrid from Alicante. The switch has reportedly caused a split in his training regime. "Both sides live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating as they once did," according to the MARCA report. Topuria expressed gratitude towards his lifelong mentors, stating: "We thank them for all these years of mutual learning and growth, and they wholeheartedly wish them all the best in all their projects." With a bout against the Brazilian around the corner, Topuria's team is now expected to consist of his brother Aleksandre, Jesus Gallo, Javi Climent – who is not related to the Climent brothers – Mani Tavanaei, and Mathias Ribeiro.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ilia Topuria splits from coaches in shock move ahead of UFC 317 title fight
In a surprising move, Ilia Topuria has reportedly split from his longtime coaches ahead of his lightweight title fight at UFC 317. On 28 June, Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt, after Islam Makhachev relinquished the gold to pursue the welterweight title. Similarly, Topuria vacated the featherweight strap in February to chase lightweight gold. Advertisement And the Spanish-Georgian, despite preparing for one of the biggest bouts of his career, has decided to split from fraternal coaches Jorge and Augustin Climent as he starts camp. That is per Spanish publication Marca, as well as MMA Fighting. Per these reports, Topuria and his brother Aleksandre – a UFC bantamweight – are parting ways with the Climent brothers on good terms. The move is apparently the result of the distance between the coaches' gym in Alicante and Topuria's residence in Madrid. Before his title defence against Max Holloway in October, the Climent brothers would travel back and forth between their gym and Madrid, with Topuria remaining in the Spanish capital. Topuria went on to knock out Holloway in round three, building on a second-round KO of Alexander Volkanovski last February, with which 'El Matador' won the 145lb title. Ilia Topuria is congratulated by his coaches after winning the UFC featherweight title (Getty) Now, the 28-year-old is moving up to 155lb, where he stopped Jai Herbert in 2022 – but only after suffering a knockdown. Advertisement In Oliveira, Topuria will take on a former lightweight champion. The Brazilian, 35, held the gold from May 2021 until May 2022, stopping Michael Chandler to win the vacant belt before submitting Dustin Poirier to retain it, and ultimately losing the title on the scales. A day before his planned title defence against Justin Gaethje, Oliveira narrowly missed weight, and so he was stripped of the belt and unable to regain it the next night. In any case, he submitted Gaethje to set up a vacant-title fight with Makhachev, who submitted 'Do Bronx' and held the gold until this month. Makhachev achieved a record four successful lightweight title defences along the way, and he now eyes 170lb glory. That means a much-desired bout between the Russian and Topuria has passed fans by – for now, at least.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ilia Topuria Reacts to UFC 317 Announcement with Bold Message for Charles Oliveira
UFC 317 is now officially on the books, and it promises fireworks as International Fight Week gets its crown jewel: Ilia Topuria vs the always-dangerous Charles Oliveira. Scheduled for June 28, this bout headlines one of the most anticipated events of the year. With the featherweight title in his rearview and a flawless record in hand, Topuria is heading into the lightweight spotlight with one goal—gold. Now, he's speaking out for the first time since the fight was announced, and his message has fans talking. Ilia Topuria, never one to hold back, took to X with a message that was both personal and provocative. 'On June 28, another dream will come true. I'll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles, my apologies in advance… I'm just fighting for my dreams. It's unfortunate that Makhachev ran away. 17-0.' With one tweet, Topuria not only addressed his current opponent, but also stirred the pot for future contenders. Topuria has long signaled that the move to lightweight was inevitable. After vacating his featherweight belt, the unbeaten contender wasted no time zeroing in on the division's top names. Now, he gets his shot against a former champion who recently scored an impressive win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309. Ilia TopuriaGetty Images While Oliveira is a formidable test, Topuria's words make it clear—he's not here for respect, he's here for legacy. UFC 317 might just be the night 'El Matador' makes history. Advertisement Fan reactions quickly followed the announcement, with some defending Topuria and others predicting an upset. One fan posted, 'Islam vacated his belt LOL,' suggesting support for Topuria's claim that Makhachev avoided the matchup. Another warned, 'Charles will humble you. Stay tuned for 17-1,' teasing the possibility of Topuria's undefeated streak coming to an end. As UFC 317 draws closer, the debate is only heating up Related: Ilia Topuria Makes a Surprise Cameo in Crossover NFL Campaign Related: UFC Re-Signs Veteran One Win Away from Breaking Historic Record
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Ilia Topuria's career earnings show swift pay jump as UFC star discusses retirement
In a new podcast appearance, Ilia Topuria has discussed his career UFC earnings and revealed when he plans to retire from mixed martial arts – as he seeks big fights and major paydays before hanging up his gloves. The unbeaten Topuria, 28, claimed the UFC featherweight title in February 2024, knocking out long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski to do so. Then, in October, he knocked out former champion Max Holloway to retain the belt. The Spanish-Georgian then vacated the title this February, amid a planned move to lightweight, where he hopes to challenge for a second UFC belt. And on the PBD Podcast on Friday (11 April), host Patrick Bet-David talked listeners through Topuria's career UFC earnings, as 'El Matador' (or 'La Leyenda' as he now wishes to be known) weighed in on the matter. 'One of your first fights, you made $38,500 – 10 October 2020. Then you made $50k, then $75k, then $90k,' said businessman Bet-David, referring to Topuria's first four UFC bouts: a decision win over Youssef Zalal, and knockouts of Damon Jackson, Ryan Hall and Jai Herbert. 'Then you made $154k with Bryce Mitchell, one of your good friends,' Bet-David joked, 'and then you made $200k with Josh Emmett.' Topuria submitted Mitchell in late 2022 and outpointed Emmett in 2023. 'Then you made $532k [...] with Volk, then you made $2.44m with Holloway. So, roughly your career earnings are $3.5m. 'This is a very good trajectory. If this is a stock, there are some real good things around the corner for you, fight-wise.' 'It's not only fight-wise, it's also business-wise,' Topuria countered. 'That's why I try to develop all the time my skills, because at some point I'm gonna retire, and I'm gonna make a living from something else.' It is unclear how much money Topuria has made outside the cage, though he is believed to have several business partnerships on the go, including with Spanish football giants Real Madrid. When asked when he plans to retire, the 28-year-old said he will fight 'until I [no longer] enjoy it to be honest'. Topuria has said the UFC promised him a title fight at lightweight in his next contest, though it is unclear whether he will challenge incumbent champion Islam Makhachev; the Russian could face another contender first, with Topuria fighting the winner. Volkanovski would face Diego Lopes for the vacant gold. That fight headlines UFC 314 in Miami on Saturday (12 April).
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ilia Topuria unveils new nickname ahead of UFC lightweight move
It turns out Ilia Topuria is changing more than just his weight class. He's also changing his nickname. Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who vacated the UFC featherweight championship for a move up to 155 pounds, will debut in the division with a new nickname, according to Mundo Deportivo. Topuria previously teased a new identity and will now go from being 'El Matador' to 'La Leyenda,' which translates to 'The Legend.' ''El Matador' is something that has been with me throughout my career, throughout my rise, and it's something that has led me to the new nickname, because a lot of people … it's like I always say: You need to believe,' Topuria said in Spanish during a press conference. 'You need to see to believe. I believe it first, and then I see it. So the nickname that will accompany me in my next fights is going to be 'La Leyenda.'' Ilia Topuria is switching fight name from 'El Matador' to 'La Leyenda' (The Legend). He's making the switch to signal a 'new era' in his career as he moves up to 155 pounds. 🇪🇸🌹 — Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) March 25, 2025 The unbeaten UFC star is coming off back-to-back knockouts of featherweight greats Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, which earned him MMA Junkie Fighter of the Year honors in 2024. By Topuria relinquishing his 145-pound title, Volkanovski will face Diego Lopes for the vacant belt in the UFC 314 headliner April 12 in Miami. Topuria is eyeing an immediate shot at the UFC lightweight title, but champion Islam Makhachev and his team believe Topuria needs to earn his way to an opportunity by beating a top contender.
