ILIA TOPURIA has undergone a dramatic body transformation ahead of his octagon return.
The Georgian-born Spaniard is just over two weeks away from challenging for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317 in Las Vegas.
GETTYIlia Topuria returns to the octagon later this month[/caption]
UFCThe former featherweight king will challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title[/caption]
GETTYTopuria will no longer have to cut a STONE of weight to make 144lbs[/caption]
INSTAGRAMThe 28-year-old is looking incredibly muscular ahead of lightweight debut[/caption]
Topuria, 28, will challenge former titleholder Charles Oliveira for the belt recently vacated by pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev.
The fight will be Topuria’s first since he announced his own vacation of the featherweight strap and a move up to 155lbs in February.
The slick striker has used the last few months to put on some considerable size and is now sporting a significantly more muscular frame.
Snaps of Topuria’s bulkier physique sent MMA fans into meltdown, with one saying: “That smirk when you know you’re about to go 17-0 and add another belt to the collection.”
Another said: “He will be a menace at 155.”
And another said: “Ilia Topuria is looking jacked.”
One remarked: “My boy looking thicc as f**k.”
Another chimed in: “He’s a real problem at 155. No one else has that KO power in that division except for Charles but it’s not the same as Topuria’s.”
GETTYIlia Topuria brutally knocked out fan favourite Max Holloway in his last fight at featherweight[/caption]
Topuria’s move up to lightweight came on the back of a devastating first and final defence of the 145lbs title against Max Holloway last October.
He moved up so he’d no longer have to lose over a STONE to make the featherweight limit.
Topuria’s clash with Oliveira will not only be his first at lightweight, it will also be his maiden fight since leaving his long-time trainers, the Climent Brothers.
‘El Matador’ recently left the Alicante-based Climent Club, which is run by brothers Jorge and Augustin, as he made Madrid his training base.
The split was an amicable one, with Jorge telling Submission Radio: “You feel, always, this is not good for the sentimental feeling, but this [is] life.
“We go with him on the journey and now he grow, and he wants to fly away, you know?
“We are very proud to [go as far as we did] with him.
‘We are very proud for everything he [has done].
GETTYIlia Topuria’s clash with Charles Oliveira will be his first since splitting from his long-time coaches[/caption]
“Of course, we are a little sad, but I want everything in his life [to] continue going well.
“I want all good for him and his brother, and I think that they do the same for us.
“I don’t know what can be in the future.
“We have our own [direction right now] We love him. We love his brother.
“We know he’s going to [beat] everybody that [he fights] because he’s the best.
“Always, he’s going to be like our son.”
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