Reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has confirmed he won’t be returning to the octagon anytime soon. In a statement shared on social media Thursday, the undefeated star explained that he’s stepping back from competition to focus on personal matters.
Topuria said he is “going through a difficult moment in my personal life” and needs time to be with his children and resolve the situation privately. He also made it clear he doesn’t intend to slow down the lightweight division.
“I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year. I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible.
“I don’t want to hold up the division. The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved I’ll let the UFC know I’m ready to begin my return.”
Topuria, has had one of the most explosive rises in recent UFC history. After back-to-back knockout wins over Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in 2024, he moved up to lightweight with plans to challenge Islam Makhachev. But when Makhachev jumped to welterweight, Topuria instead faced Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317 and claimed it with a first-round knockout. The win made him the 10th two-division champion in UFC history.
He currently sits at No. 2 in MMA Fighting’s Pound-for-Pound rankings, just behind Makhachev, who became the UFC’s 11th two-division champion after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
The lightweight division is stacked with contenders eager for their shot. Paddy Pimblett and longtime fan favorite Justin Gaethje have both pushed publicly for the next title fight. Now, with Topuria out until at least April, both men, and the rest of the division, will have to wait for “El Matador” to return.
Max Holloway also posted a message of support for his former rival shortly after the announcement.
Even after making headlines for a major partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, Ilia Topuria has delivered news fans weren’t expecting, he’s not returning to the cage in the first quarter of 2026.
The lightweight champion hasn’t fought since claiming the belt in June after vacating his featherweight title. Although fans believed he was being lined up for UFC’s first major event of 2026, Topuria has now confirmed otherwise.
He issued a detailed statement on X, addressing the growing questions about his comeback and making it clear his family comes first.
“I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year,” Topuria wrote. “I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible. I don’t want to hold up the division. The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved I’ll let the UFC know I’m ready to begin my return.”
With Arman Tsarukyan calling Topuria out after his dominant win at UFC Qatar, the timing of the champion’s break adds another twist to an already heated division. According to recent reports, Topuria’s absence and the matchups surrounding it are expected to be addressed in Dana White’s announcement scheduled for later today.
Several days before releasing his statement, Topuria discussed the potential opponents for his return in an interview with Álvaro Colmenero. While he’s interested in fighting Paddy Pimblett, he admitted the matchup only appeals to him if he doesn’t get the chance to chase a third UFC belt.
His real target remains Islam Makhachev, a pound-for-pound showdown that would test his star power across a third weight class.
“I have Paddy on my mind,” Topuria said. “I’d like to fight Paddy [Pimblett] if they don’t let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam, because the fight I’d really like is against Islam in the third weight class.”
