Former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has indicated that he is preparing to return to competition, nearly five months after suffering a damaging defeat to Justin Gaethje at the UFC’s historic White House event in June.
Topuria, 29, lost his lightweight title after being forced to retire on his stool following significant facial injuries sustained against Gaethje. The former two-division champion subsequently revealed that he had temporarily lost his vision in both eyes during the contest and has remained out of action while recovering from the defeat.
“I returned to where it all began,” wrote Topuria on Instagram, according to talkSPORT. The Georgian-born Spanish fighter shared photographs of himself visiting the Didgori Memorial in Georgia, where he reflected on his roots and suggested that his return to the Octagon was approaching.
“Not to reminisce, but to remember. ‘The Matador’ is coming back,” Topuria added. His announcement has renewed speculation about a potential meeting with Paddy Pimblett, with whom he has maintained a longstanding rivalry dating back to an altercation at a London hotel in 2022. The pair also faced off following Topuria’s knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025.
No opponent or date has been confirmed for Topuria’s return, although Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan are among the potential candidates. Pimblett recently defeated Benoit Saint Denis, while Tsarukyan strengthened his title credentials with a knockout victory over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Gaethje’s next move could also influence the lightweight title picture, with the reigning champion having previously ruled out an immediate rematch with Topuria.
Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian parents and later moved to Spain, previously held the UFC featherweight championship before moving up to lightweight and defeating Oliveira to claim a second divisional title. His defeat to Gaethje ended his unbeaten professional record, and his next appearance will mark his first fight since surrendering the lightweight championship.
