Ilia Topuria has unveiled a striking physical transformation as he gears up for his return to the octagon.
The Spanish fighter, originally from Georgia, is now less than two weeks away from challenging for the lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 317 in Las Vegas.
Topuria, 28 years old, is scheduled to face former titleholder Charles Oliveira for the belt that was recently vacated by the top-ranked fighter Islam Makhachev.
This upcoming fight will mark Topuria`s first appearance since he announced in February his decision to vacate the featherweight strap and move up to the 155lb division.
The skilled striker has dedicated the past few months to gaining significant muscle mass and now showcases a noticeably more robust physique.
Photos of Topuria`s bulked-up physique caused considerable excitement among MMA enthusiasts, with one fan commenting, “That look when you know you`re about to hit 17-0 and grab another title.”
Another fan predicted, “He`s going to be a serious threat at 155.”
Yet another simply stated, “Ilia Topuria is looking ripped.”
One user remarked humorously, “He`s looking seriously built.”
Another user added, “He poses a real challenge at 155. Nobody else in the division has that kind of knockout power, except perhaps Charles, but it`s a different kind than Topuria`s.”
Topuria`s transition to lightweight occurred after his devastating first and only defense of the 145lb title against Max Holloway last October.
His primary motivation for the move was to eliminate the need for the demanding weight cut, which required him to lose over 14 pounds (6.3 kg) to make the featherweight limit.
The upcoming fight against Oliveira is not only his debut in the lightweight division but also his first bout since splitting with his long-standing trainers, the Climent Brothers.
`El Matador` recently left the Climent Club, located in Alicante and run by brothers Jorge and Augustin, to establish Madrid as his new primary training base.
Jorge commented on the separation, stating it felt difficult emotionally but was simply a part of life. He told Submission Radio:
“You feel, always, this is not good for the sentimental feeling, but this [is] life. We go with him on the journey and now he grow, and he wants to fly away, you know? We are very proud of how far we went together with him. We are very proud of everything he has achieved.”
He continued:
“Of course, we are a little sad, but I want everything in his life to continue going well. I wish all the best for him and his brother, and I believe they feel the same about us. I don`t know what the future holds. We currently have our own path. We love him. We love his brother. We know he`s going to beat everyone he fights because he`s the best. He will always be like our son to us.”