Three years of the takeoff of Ilyia Topuria: when London changed the life of the UFC star

There is no evil that for good does not come. With this saying we try to overcome complicated situations and transform them into learning. Or growing. Make the disadvantage a strength. That is what tried to carry out Ilia Topuria Three years ago in London. And he succeeded with an outstanding one. A week that served him as a valuable instruction, but that, in addition, allowed him to consolidate as a fighter to take into account, thanks to a rivalry that is still far from closing with the local idol, Paddy Pimblett, and a knockout that would eventually become a ‘House brand’. Hydroalcoholic gels flying at the hotel, attempts at failed right -row and others that connected but already inside the octagon. Let’s recap those days of which the third anniversary has just been fulfilled.

Before entering a slaughter, you have to establish a previous context. In January 2022, Topuria reached UFC 270 with a record of three consecutive victories Since its premiere in the largest mixed martial arts league (MMA). After debuting in a short warning to Youssef Zalal, and beating by unanimous decision in 2020, the Hispanic-Georgian had knocked out Damon Jackson in the first assault, and had known how to placate Ryan Hall, an American tie star, also to the first change. However, something complicated was close to happening. On the aforementioned date of 2022, the matador had a fight against Movar Evloev, a Russian athlete who came undefeated and with a strong rivalry with Topuria. At that time, Covid was still persistent truncating numerous lawsuits. And so it was. Evloev gave positive and had to look for a rival for forced marches to the Hispanic-Georgian. Charles Jourdain appeared. But, when everything was well aimed, during the weight cut, Topuria began to have problems, and the doctors decided to stop dehydration and Cancel the fight. Everything to Garete was thought at that time.

The UFC does not usually like these things happen, but the reality is that El Matador allowed him to take a leap of quality, both in his preparation and in the professionalization of his weight cuts. After two months, in March 2022, the following commitment to Topuria came. But this time it was no longer in the pen weight (145 pounds, 65.8 kilos), but in The light weight (155, 70.1 kilos), the division he has now climbed to seek to conquer the UFC title after having reigned in the pen. At that time, this was taken as a kind of punishment by the company due to its problems in weight loss. “Hala, go up with the greats, that you will not have so many troubles in the cut,” said the in charge of the marriage of the fighting. But that was the take -off of Topuria, the awakening of the beast, The birth of a superstar.

Let’s go back to March 2022, specifically a week of the UFC Fight Night event in London. The killer had already had several hooks on social networks with Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimbletta kind of ‘beattle’ with blond hair with flexible tongue. And dangerous. It cannot be denied that Liverpool’s does not have a good level, but of course it is not bigger than his words. Pimblett, in a short show, mocked Russia’s invasion to Georgia in the past, with the consequent anger of Topuria, who warned him that, if he crossed it, I would pay Caro. Well, during the so -called ‘Fight Week’, they crossed in a Hilton Hotel room, where the fighters stayed, taking place a fighting conato, in which Topuria threw a pair of hands, which did not impact fully, and Pimblett defended himself shooting a hydroalcoholic gel.

«I warned you! This is what happens when you miss the respect for me and my country. You saw me and wanted to greet me because you shit on my pants. I should thank my team because if I hadn’t torn your head, ”wrote the Hispanic-Georgian then. This anecdote could have gone unnoticed, but the Topuria team recorded that fray. And it went viral. He took Millions of visits And the killer saw how his followers multiplied every minute. He exceeded 200,000 followers only on Instagram. He left anonymity to become a known fighter, even if for this reason … yet. The fight week passed and the event arrived. Topuria faced his ‘punishment’ and debuted in the light weight against Local fighter Jai Herbertan athlete known for his ability in the hit and his elongated physical complexion.

It was the time. The spotlights were fixed on the Hispanic-Georgian fighter. He had become the number one public enemy. With an O2 Arena to overflow, with about 20,000 throats against El Matador, the battle began, with ABC as the only Spanish witness just three meters from the octagon. After a minute of the contest, Topuria crossed the most dramatic moment of his sports career. Herbert connected a powerful high kick that made the Hispanic-Georgian He went to the ground. The British celebrated. They were seeing their main objective fall. But Ilyia Topuria was not going to give them that taste. After touching the canvas, and with an obvious state of dizziness, the matador threw courage, pundonor, resilience, and managed to grab the English legs to take it to the melee fight. There he managed to recover. I was alive. He hadn’t said his last word. The undefeated was not going to escape so easily.

The first assault ended and his brother Aleksandre quickly came out, along with Jorge and Agustín Climent, to give him the indications. Drunk, they seemed to advise him. But Not your style. His mentality is another: winning his opponents in the field where they feel strong. The second round arrived. And after several hitting exchanges, Topuria found the hole and connected two terrifying hands that made Herbert It would collapse. Another to the sleep room. In your field. In its best version. In everything they want. The Hispanic-Georgian silenced the English enclosure and his knockout became viral for his spectacularity. Two fights in that same week, that of the hotel and that of the octagon, allowed him to obtain a peak of popularity unknown until that moment. Surpassed the ‘punishment’ by far and served him to take off as a star budding.

The rest is history. He returned to the pen weight in his next fight and submitted, at the end of 2022, the beloved American fighter Bryce Mitchell, ending his undefeated record. The following year would come the tremendous beating that gave Josh Emmett in Jacksonville, allowing him to become the official challenger for the title of the 145 pounds. In 2024, Topuria finished taking off as a superstar, after Cut Alexander Volkanovskiproclaiming World UFC champion, and doing the same with Max Hollowayto consolidate your reign in the pen. Now, it will begin its journey in this second stage of the light weight, because that fight that changed everything in London already was in that division. Topuria wants to continue enlarging his legacy.