Ilia Topuria explains why he changed his approach after joining the UFC

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Ilia Topuria is one of the most exciting fighters in the Octagon right now.

He claimed the featherweight title with a dominant run, finishing both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in impressive fashion.

He continued that form after moving up to 155 pounds, knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the lightweight belt on his return to the division.

But he wasn’t always seen as such a destructive force earlier in his career.

Why Ilia Topuria prioritised entertainment in his UFC career

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Since signing with the UFC in 2020, Topuria has stopped six of his nine opponents, a noticeable shift from earlier in his career, where he had just one knockout in eight fights outside the promotion.

He explained this change during an appearance on One on One, saying his approach to fighting was shaped by a focus on entertainment value once he joined the UFC.

“At the end of the day, you are in a sport which is based on entertaining,” Topuria said. “You have to be aware of that.

“I remember when I started to fight in the UFC, I was like, ‘Listen, I gotta have all the tools. I have to be good in striking, good in wrestling, good on the ground. And everywhere that the fight takes place, I have to be entertaining.’

“If I go to the ground, I have to be entertaining,” he continued. “Because there are a lot of fans that go to watch the fights that don’t know anything. They’ve never practiced a sport.

“So you have to make it entertaining for them. So this is basically what I did. It sounds a little bit weird but that was my thought process.”

The Spanish-Georgian returns from an extended break looking to add Gaethje’s name to an already impressive resume and record his first successful defence at 155 pounds.