It appears that Ilia Topuria might have been on the verge of leaving the UFC just months before his remarkable title-winning performance against Alexander Volkanovski. The German-born Georgian-Spanish fighter entered UFC 298 on February 17 as the challenger, boasting an undefeated record of 14-0 in professional MMA.
‘El Matador’ faced longtime UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 298 and emerged victorious with a second-round knockout, clinching the UFC featherweight title. Topuria’s previous UFC bout saw him secure a unanimous decision victory over Josh Emmett in June 2023.
According to Ariel Helwani, Topuria’s previous UFC contract was reportedly set to expire at the end of 2023.
This means that his fight against Emmett could have been his last bout in the UFC if he opted not to renew his contract with the organization.
Helwani indicated that Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s Chief Business Officer, traveled to Topuria’s homeland of Spain to negotiate a new contract with the MMA fighter.
Furthermore, Helwani suggested that such efforts from the UFC signify their recognition of Topuria’s exceptional talent. In his social media post, he stated:
“It wasn’t widely reported, but Topuria’s contract was expiring at the end of 2023. UFC’s Hunter Campbell traveled to Spain to secure a new deal. They don’t go to such lengths for everyone, but clearly, they recognized his potential. It seems their investment is about to pay off significantly.”
