Ilia Topuria Reveals His Training Secret That Led to UFC Double Champ Status

Madrid, Spain — For months the MMA world has speculated about the hidden ingredient behind Ilia Topuria’s meteoric climb to the summit of two UFC divisions. On Tuesday the undefeated Georgian-Spanish star finally offered an answer: relentless, position-specific repetition guided by instinct rather than convention.

Speaking to streamer Adin Ross, the 27-year-old who now holds both the featherweight and lightweight belts explained that his preparation is built on one core principle—confidence through personalization.

“Everyone has his own style,” Topuria said. “There is no specific rule that you should follow. You just should follow your instinct, whatever builds your confidence and makes you feel comfortable. Before the fight, you have to do that.”

Topuria’s philosophy has already produced historic results. He dethroned long-reigning featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, turned back the legendary Max Holloway in his first title defense, and then captured vacant lightweight gold with a victory over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. The feat made him only the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously.

Despite a reputation for concussive striking—highlighted by knockouts of Volkanovski, Holloway and Oliveira—Topuria insists his competitive bedrock is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a dimension he says fans have yet to witness in full.

“Me, personally, I love to work on the technique, to develop my skills, to feel more specific and to put myself into positions that could happen in a fight,” he said. “I want to be able to have all the tools that I’m going to need in the fight. For example, if I’m fighting a wrestler, I want to be able to have all the tools in the world.”

That meticulous approach translates into thousands of reps of the same maneuver, a monastic routine Topuria believes hard-wires responses under duress. He credits the method for the defensive layers that have complemented his celebrated offense, allowing him to remain unbeaten inside the octagon.

After a self-imposed hiatus to address personal matters, Topuria is poised to re-enter the cage. Rumors point to a June 14 date at the UFC’s rumored “White House” card, where he could face interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in a title-unification bout, though the promotion has yet to confirm the matchup.

While Gaethje waits in the wings, top contender Arman Tsarukyan has intensified his public campaign for a crack at Topuria. The rivalry stems from the UFC’s decision to grant Topuria an immediate lightweight title shot last year, bypassing Tsarukyan, who many viewed as the rightful No. 1 contender.

Topuria dismissed the idea that Tsarukyan represents his sternest test.

“I’ve already had my toughest challenges,” he said, referencing Tsarukyan’s prior losses to Islam Makhachev and Mateusz Gamrot. “He doesn’t really have the ability to finish the fight. He only finishes the fights when his opponent gets tired.”

Whether the next challenge comes from Gaethje, Tsarukyan or another hungry contender, Topuria remains steadfast in his training ethos: master the scenarios that could unfold, then trust the instinct forged through countless repetitions. If history is any guide, that formula has already carried him further than most fighters dare to dream.