With just hours until the end of the 2025 natural season, it’s time to take stock of the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Regarding the main Spanish figure in the UFC, the biggest MMA league, … Ilia Topuria, although he has not seen much activity this year, remains on the list of 2025 fighters.
And in this ranking there are undoubtedly champions like Islam Makhachev, who currently leads the welterweight division, or the Georgian Merab Dvalishvili, who defended his world title three times before losing it in December to the Russian Petr Yan. However, the only fight that Topuria fought in 2025 is counted by victory, which also helped him become a two-time UFC champion.
However, a series of personal problems led him to make a statement in which he claimed to have suffered “threats and extortion attempts” from his ex-partner. And this led to him not being able to compete in the first months of 2026, when the UFC had among its plans that Topuria defend his world title against the Englishman Paddy Pimblett. Faced with this impossibility, Paddy himself will face the American Justin Gaethje in January for the interim belt in the Topuria category. It will be then that the UFC will decide the future of the Hispano-Georgiano.
Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria is in the Spanish capital accompanied by former bantamweight champion and personal friend, Merab Dvalishvili, as well as other colleagues like Omar Montes or Pablos Motos. Of course, without stopping training. Today, El Matador made a publication on his social networks in which he leaves a message very true to his personality: “Trust God’s Timing”.
Even though his future is uncertain due to his personal problems and the interim title fight between Paddy and Justin, we can expect him to return between May and July 2026. Specifically, in June there will be two very important events this season.: that of the White House, June 14, and International Fight Week, one or two weeks later.
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