Ilia Topuria Coach: Why Did UFC Superstar Break 13-Year-Old Partnership?

Ilia Topuria brings changes to new fight camp by ditching old team before UFC 317 PPV main event title clash vs. Charles Oliveira.

Ilia Topuria Coach: Why Did UFC Superstar Break 13-Year-Old Partnership?

UFC 317’s Ilia Topuria ditches camp before Charles Oliveira showdown (Source: X)

Ilia Topuria has always continued to stir up storms wherever he goes. Just look at his run in 2024 as the prime example. Then, Topuria caused a crash for a UFC 155-pound shift up, but faced rejection from the champion. Nevertheless, the Spaniard is well on his way for the vacant title at the UFC 317 PPV. However, he is doing it with a brand new team in tow for the ‘Charles Oliveira‘ challenge.

Sharp on the hour yesterday (May 19, 2025, 7:23 pm EDT), the MMA outlet Marca reported Topuria is embracing the UFC 317 title fight without Jorge and Agustin Climent. The rumor mills also have brother, and new UFC signee Aleksandre Topuria, changing camp from Club Climent due to location problems. Spanish MMA journo Alvaro Colmenero, who had a legit hold and insight into the matter, provided some tidbits heading into Tuesday:

For quite some time, Ilia’s work team was formed by his own brother Aleks and Javi Climent [who is not related to the Climent brothers]. Javi Climent [boxing/strike coach] moved months ago to Madrid to form part of his hard core of technical preparation, something that will continue to be the case. And he had added Mani Tavanaei and Mathias Ribeiro [BJJ black belts] to his team…The separation was already tacit, but unofficial.

Ex two-time Strawweight champ Rose Namajunas ditching Trevor Wittman before her UFC Paris bout in 2023 slump had rung some serious bells in the MMA clique. This is the case for many others before and after. But, the good takeaway is that Ilia Topuria did not change teams for some illicit drama but rather geography constraints.

The Spanish journalist reported it’s not much of a switch-up given the fighter was working out of Madrid with his own kitted-up team (seen in the UFC 308 PPV “Countdown” Vlog) for the Max Holloway title fight. He also reported that Jesus Gallo had enunciated their clinical requirements in fight camps from the very start. Gallo and Doctor Aldo Martinez physically coordinated for it; whether that remains is yet unknown. 

Why the move from camp? Ilia Topuria pitched in on his choice a while back

The Climent brothers operate the Climent Club in Alicante, Spain. They have overseen Topuria’s BJJ, grappling, and MMA needs and have been at it since he was 15. Climent Club and manager Malki Kawa were also responsible as good drivers for amping up his UFC 317 PPV event headliner shot. They had presented that ‘El Matador’ isn’t just a prolific finisher, but his untested grappling was even better.

Ilia Topuria ‘new’ team confirmed; once iterated recovery conditions in camp
Ilia Topuria ‘new’ team confirmed; once iterated recovery conditions in camp (Source: X)

This made a clear-cut avenue to make a PPV title scrap and a pure skills test against the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter, Islam Makhachev. Sambo expert Makhachev has also proven how he can outbox, and this was the direction to go to; Topuria did his part to shoot for gold and amp up talks of a title promise. Even though he did not get that booking, Charles Oliveira came knocking.

Topuria has mentioned the name of Oliveira multiple times, dating back to the beginning of this year. While Ilia Topuria has had a good team, he also mentioned needing a backup to facilitate his fighting arsenal. Subsequently, he wasn’t just talking about his recovery chamber, a cryotherapy chamber, grapple mats, and a very large area for pad works at his Madrid home gym.

For me, the recovery process is very important, …I’m able to prevent injuries, and I don’t have to cure them. I set up everything here. I have the recovery room, I have my boxing trained, the grappling, the wrestling, I surround myself with great professionals who are a part of my team.

With him set to go up against an astute submission finisher in UFC competition, the UFC 317 title fighter is up for quite the challenge. However, oddsmakers do not find this camp change to be blazingly alarming for Topuria. Per SportsBetting.ag, he is still a -305 favorite on the money line to beat ‘Do Bronx.’

Also Read: