‘The Matador is coming back’: Ilia Topuria signals UFC return following Gaethje defeat

Previous UFC light-weight champ Ilia Topuria has actually suggested that he is preparing to go back to competitors, almost 5 months after suffering a destructive defeat to Justin Gaethje at the UFC’s historical White House occasion in June.

Topuria, 29, lost his light-weight title after being required to retire on his stool following substantial facial injuries sustained versus Gaethje. The previous two-division champ consequently exposed that he had actually momentarily lost his vision in both eyes throughout the contest and has actually stayed out of action while recuperating from the defeat.

“I went back to where all of it started,” composed Topuria on Instagram, according to talkSPORTThe Georgian-born Spanish fighter shared photos of himself going to the Didgori Memorial in Georgia, where he assessed his roots and recommended that his go back to the Octagon was approaching.

“Not to recollect, however to bear in mind. ‘The Matador’ is returning,” Topuria included. His statement has actually restored speculation about a prospective conference with Paddy Pimblett, with whom he has actually kept a longstanding competition going back to a run-in at a London hotel in 2022. The set likewise took on following Topuria’s knockout success over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025.

No challenger or date has actually been validated for Topuria’s return, although Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan are amongst the possible prospects. Pimblett just recently beat Benoit Saint Denis, while Tsarukyan reinforced his title qualifications with a knockout success over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Gaethje’s next relocation might likewise affect the light-weight title photo, with the ruling champ having formerly dismissed an instant rematch with Topuria.

Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian moms and dads and later on relocated to Spain, formerly held the UFC featherweight champion before going up to light-weight and beating Oliveira to declare a 2nd divisional title. His defeat to Gaethje ended his unbeaten expert record, and his next look will mark his very first battle considering that giving up the light-weight champion.