“Has Grown And Wants To Fly,” Ilia Topuria’s Head Coach Gets Real About Emotional Split Up With UFC Superstar

Ilia Topuria's longtime coach talks about parting ways with the former featherweight champion after years of collaboration.

“Has Grown And Wants To Fly,” Ilia Topuria’s Head Coach Gets Real About Emotional Split Up With UFC Superstar

Ilia Topuria's coach gives details about their recent separation (via Instagram)

Changing teams is often a result of poor performance in fights, but Ilia Topuria‘s situation is very different and unique. Despite achieving great success, Topuria separated paths from his old coaches which nobody saw coming.

Topuria began training under Jorge and Agustin Climent at fifteen, eventually competing in sixteen professional MMA bouts under their guidance. However, their partnership has now ended and his brother, Aleksandre Topuria, will also part ways with the Climent team. In a recent Submission Radio interview, Jorge discussed the split respectfully, emphasizing that there is no bad blood or dispute involved.

It's real. He go to live in Madrid. I have my own project here with my brother. Ilia go to Madrid, he has his own gym in his house, and he wants all the energy on him. We decided like gentlemen. Now we don't work together anymore. I always feel this is not good for sentimental things, but it's the life. We go with him on all his journey, and now he grow and want to fly away. We are very proud to have done all the work with him.

According to reports, the primary reason behind this separation is logistical difficulties, preventing Ilia Topuria from traveling back and forth consistently. After the split, the Topuria brothers expressed gratitude and wished their longtime coaches the best of luck in future endeavors. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t be worse, as Topuria is preparing to fight Charles Oliveira for UFC 317’s lightweight championship.

During the interview, Climent mentioned that he believes Topuria won’t struggle much due to his extensive fighting experience. Topuria has frequently emphasized collaborating with his brother on strategies, and that dynamic is expected to remain unchanged moving forward. Additionally, his state-of-the-art home gym in Madrid ensures optimal training conditions and eliminates potential issues during the upcoming fight camp.

Oliveira is a seasoned veteran with significantly more championship experience compared to the undefeated contender, Topuria. Despite that, Topuria has entered the title bout as the fan favorite, fueled by momentum and his devastating knockout power. The only fighter who might have had even odds with ‘El Matador’ has already exited the lightweight division for other opportunities.

Top UFC lightweight believes the current form of Ilia Topuria is unstoppable 

Ilia Topuria originally planned to move up and face pound-for-pound ace Islam Makhachev in a high-stakes super-fight. He had engaged in multiple verbal confrontations with the Dagestani champion, further intensifying their already simmering rivalry. However, after Jack Della Maddalena’s impressive victory at UFC 315, Makhachev wasted no time and moved up divisions immediately.

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev superfight
Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev superfight (via X)

Though it created a title opportunity for Topuria to fight Charles Oliveira, he still took a jab at Makhachev. Topuria accused the Dagestani of running scared, fearing a loss that could permanently damage his legacy. Top lightweight contender Renato Moicano recently discussed this anticipated fight with Ariel Helwani, sharing insights and opinions on both competitors.

I think Ilia Topuria would beat Islam Makhachev. I think he's the real deal and I think with his grappling and the way he moves his head and his boxing... I think he would impose a lot of trouble to Islam Makhachev but now it's just speculation. 

Despite moving up, there are still signs that an Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev fight could happen sometime in the future. In response to accusations, Makhachev highlighted his lightweight achievements and subtly hinted at the possibility of facing Topuria eventually. Though Topuria has already dismissed an immediate title bout, it remains intriguing to watch how things work out.