No elite athlete gets there without the help of a nearby team to boost them, and Ilia Topuria is not the exception. The ‘Matador’ has a trusted group that has accompanied him since his beginnings in mixed martial arts and even before, with his brother Aleksandre at the helm.
And if Ilia Topuria is close to becoming a true MMA legendto a large extent it is because he has known how to count on people who have helped him stay focused on his goal.
Not only his brother, who serves as his pure trainer inside the octagon, but also his boxing technicians, his physical trainer or his nutritionist, all of whom are key to the fight this October 26 against Max Holloway I finished off the Hispanic-Georgian by lifting the featherweight champion belt.
Aleksandre Topuria, his brother, coach and sparring partner
Because he was the older brother, the one who was destined to succeed in MMA was Aleksandre Topuria. And although he debuted at the same time as Ilia, a defeat when they were beginning their careers, in 2015 and at only 19 years old, made him rethink things. Since then he put on the brakes, and realized that his work as his younger brother’s coach could give him the opportunity to return.
He spent six years without getting into a ring, until he returned to the octagon in 2021 while, in parallel, I was sparring adapted to the needs of his brother, with whom he has passed (as it could not be otherwise between brothers), in fits and starts.
After years celebrating Ilia’s successes from the outside, Alek has signed for the UFC and will debut in a few months. Before, he will be one of his brother’s most necessary supports, both inside and outside the ring. Gone are the years in which they both practiced Greco-Roman wrestling, judo or boxing.
And for those who doubt that there is professional jealousy, a recent message from Ilia: «As a child I never needed a superhero because I was lucky to have the best by my side.
Aldo Martínez, an elite physical trainer
Achieving a maximum degree of excellence in a combat sport like mixed martial arts is only achieved with a body that is 100% prepared for it. The challenge of turning Ilia Topuria into a perfect physical machine falls, among others, on Aldo Martínez.
This doctor in elite physical preparation from Alicante is the one who does sweat, run, grunt and push yourself to the limit to Ilia Topuria. It is your responsibility to take care of injuries and get him ready like a Formula 1 engineer prepares a car for a Grand Prix.
His method consists of combining physical and mental preparation, as he designs specific training for Topuria, both in Spain and abroad when he fights abroad.
University Master’s Degree in High Sports Performance, completed at the Olympic Center for Higher Studies (2008) and University Master’s Degree in High Sports Performance: Strength and Physical Conditioning from UCAM (2018). He is also a doctor, first from the Miguel Hernández University (2014) and then from the UCAM (2015) with works always related to physical activity. Aldo Martinez He met Ilia Topuria thanks to the Climent brothers, in their gym, where the Hispanic-Georgian has been fighting with boxing gloves.
The Climent brothers
The Argentines Jorge and Agustín Climentformer champions in their country and emigrated due to the ‘corralito’ crisis at the beginning of the century, opened their gym, the Climent Club in 2008. And it was an immediate success: it was the only venue specialized in contact sports and, specifically, in MMA.
European champions in several contact sports disciplines, they have managed to perfect the technique of the Topuria, whom they have trained since even before their arrival to the elite. Neither Jorge (who is nicknamed Master) nor Agustín (Master of Masters) are separated from Ilia in any combat.
Their job is to perfect technique and tactics in the octagon, both equally important when fighting.
Javi Climent, the art of boxing
The art that Ilia Topuria handles best in the ring is, by far, sparring. His good work when he uses what he learned in boxing is due to the Vitorian Javi Climent.
At 30 years old, he already had to retire from professional boxing, after breaking his hand a few years ago. Through Aleksandre, he joined Ilia’s team, with the task of not teach you how to box (you don’t need it), but to perfect your style.
“My role with him is boxing, I work on being on top in a fight with my fists, my specialty, and kicks,” he explained succinctly in an interview in GasteizHoy.
Pepe Torres and Guram Kutateladze, Ilia’s sparring partners
Any physical preparation, nutrition or previous training is of little use if it is not put into practice. And for this it is essential to have elite fighters who push Ilia Topuria to the limit.
That’s where they come in the Spanish Pepe Torres and the Georgian Guram Kutateladze. With them, Ilia Topuria (and also Aleksandre) learns to put into practice the work she does every day in the gym or in the hours of study she dedicates to understanding her rivals.
All of them, in addition to those closest to Ilia (his girlfriend, his son, his family, his friends like Omar Montes, Alberto Contador and Gerard Piqué), are most responsible for the Hispanic-Georgian being in the sweetest moment of his sports career and being able to become the next great legend of the UFC.
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