[9][16] At the age of seven, Topuria moved to Georgia with his family and started practicing Greco-Roman wrestling at a local school.

[19] Initially coming into the UFC organization with a strong base in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Topuria dedicated himself to enhancing his stand-up game, particularly his boxing, under the guidance of experienced coaches.

His boxing style is marked by precise shot selection, fluid combinations, and remarkable power, which was on full display during his knockout victories over Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in 2024.

[20][21] Topuria started his career with four straight submission wins on the Spanish regional scene and won a belt in Mix Fight Events promotion.

Months later he received the opportunity to fight for the Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, Belgium.

Ilia made his promotional debut in Bogotá, Colombia,[24] defeating Luis Gomez in the first round by submission;[25] which earned him the award for best performance of the night.

[27][28] Topuria, as a replacement for Seung Woo Choi, took a bout on short notice against Youssef Zalal on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs.

[37] However, Topuria was pulled from the card due to a medical issue related to cutting weight and the bout was cancelled.

[38] Topuria faced Jai Herbert, replacing Mike Davis, on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204.

[52] Topuria won the featherweight championship via knockout in the second round, ending Volkanovski's four-year reign as champion.

[68][69] Topuria's older brother Aleksandre, also a mixed martial artist, is expected to debut with the UFC in February 2025.