Ilia Topuria says brother saved his vision: 'probably I wouldn't be able to fight again'
Topuria has written that he left his White House loss to Justin Gaethje with both orbital bones fractured, and is considering a comeback from April.
Ilia Topuria has agreed "100%" that his brother Aleksandre saved his vision by stopping his fight with Justin Gaethje, and said he might never have fought again without that decision.
Asked in an interview whether, looking back, "Alex's decision saved your vision", Topuria said: "Oh, 100%. If he wouldn't stop me to fight, probably I wouldn't be able to fight again in my life."
"Actually, I'm so grateful with my brother that he decided to stop me because I love what I'm doing," he added. "I had a bad experience, but I still have a lot of things ahead of me. So it would be very sad to me if I would hear from a doctor or from anyone that I wouldn't be able to fight anymore."
Justin Gaethje beat Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June to win the undisputed lightweight title, after Topuria's corner stopped the fight on his stool following the fourth round. It was the first loss of his career. In the UFC's no-commentary footage of the bout, Topuria told his corner after the third round that he could "barely see anything". The cageside doctor checked his eyes, and referee Marc Goddard let the fight continue.
Topuria has called the defeat the worst day of his career, and in an essay on his official website he has written that he left that night with both orbital bones fractured, his septum broken and his foot broken. He has said a comeback is being considered from April and named Paddy Pimblett as the man he wants to face, and Dana White has said the UFC is planning his return for early 2027. No opponent or date has been announced.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Islam Makhachev says his mother may decide when he retires: 'I will obey her word'
- SNL star Sarah Sherman: 'Dana White is evil' and UFC fighters 'get annihilated' on pay
- Eddie Hearn says Arman Tsarukyan photo came from 'staying in the same hotel randomly'
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta wants Josh Hokit's teeth: 'the whole f***ing mouth, that dirty mouth'
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.