Ilia Topuria kept parents out of his room after Gaethje loss: 'I didn't want my mom to see me'

Topuria told Adam Catterall he was "almost blind" in front of the President of the United States, and that when he did let his family in, everyone was almost crying.

Ilia Topuria says he refused to let anyone into his room the morning after his first career defeat, to Justin Gaethje, because he did not want his mother to see him in that state.

"It was really hard because the next morning when I woke up, my mom was there, my dad was there. I wasn't allowing anyone to come to my room," Topuria told Adam Catterall. Asked why, he said: "Because I didn't want my mom to see me in that situation. I don't know. It was a weird experience."

He said he changed his mind after his team told him everyone was worried and wanted to see him, and he let them all in. "I was trying to make some fun with everything that happened because everyone was so serious and everyone was almost crying," he said.

Topuria said he never really cried. "I was in front of the President of the United States... and I was almost blind. I couldn't breathe with a lot of pain," he said. He added that he was glad he had the experience "because it teach me that it doesn't matter how hard, like, life can punch you or treat you or whatever, like, life continues."

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. Topuria has said his brother Aleksandre's decision to stop it saved his vision, 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.

In the same interview, Topuria said he wants a rematch and does not think Gaethje will retire "without one more paycheck". Dana White has said the UFC is planning his return for early 2027. No opponent or date has been announced.

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