Spain

Ilia “El Matador” Topuria is a fighter of Georgian and Spanish heritage based in Alicante, Spain. He made his professional MMA debut in 2015 and earned his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jorge and Agustín Climent. Topuria rose through regional and international promotions before winning the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 317. In 2025, he climbed to the top of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.