Dana White Drops Exciting News About Ilia Topuria’s Return

Ilia Topuria last fought in June. In a war against Justin Gaethje, ‘El Matador’ was unable to finish the bout due to medical reasons. Suffering significant damage, it was presumed that the Spaniard would be gone for a long time. However, after only about three months, it looks like Topuria is back again. UFC CEO Dana White has given the green light, as well. 

Dana White Hints at Ilia Topuria-Justin Gaethje Rematch

In a recent interaction, White confirmed that Topuria was fully ready to get inside the octagon and fight. Speaking with Jim Rome, the UFC CEO stated, “Our guys are always in touch with him — we don't have him on the schedule right now, but Topuria is ready to fight, and we're ready for him.” 

Next up, White was asked about who would be Topuria’s opponent after his return. Only recently, it has been heavily rumored that UFC is planning a rematch between Gaethje and Topuria. Replying to the question, the UFC boss seemed excited for the rematch. He also had another opponent in mind. 

White stated, “Both sound good to me. They're both great. We don't lose with either one of those fights. They are both great fights; I don't know. Obviously the rematch with Gaethje is incredible. A Paddy Pimblett fight is amazing — as bad as those two hate each other."

Ilia Topuria Eager to Prove Champion’s Mentality

Topuria’s rise in the UFC was pretty dominant. En route to the top, he beat the likes of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and more. However, following his fight against Gaethje, his mentality has presumptively taken quite a hit. Thus, eager to return to the octagon, the former UFC two-division champion had a confident message for his fans. 

Topuria said, “I promise you all that I'm coming back even stronger. Because today, more than ever before, I know that what matters most is to believe unwaveringly."

Currently, with all the comeback talks, there is no set date for Topuria’s return yet.