Topuria Plans A Major Career Change Post-UFC
UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria says it ‘won’t be too long’ before he leaves MMA for boxing.
Topuria became a two-weight world champion after stopping Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June to secure the vacant lightweight title. The belt was in addition to his prior flyweight title, as he extended his undefeated UFC record to 9-0. Topuria has taken a break from MMA due to personal reasons, with reports he is navigating a divorce in the background. Topuria has now revealed there are issues he is dealing with in the background, but refused to expand on them specifically.
Ilia is expected to fight in the summer, possibly against the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, who face off at UFC 324 on January 24 in an interim lightweight title fight. Topuria has previously mentioned the idea of boxing, even stating that he would stop three-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford. Now, Ilia says it is only a matter of time before he switches to boxing.
“It’s no secret that I’ve always wanted to try my hand at boxing. But I think something I’ve always applied to my life is that if you try to catch two rabbits, you end up catching neither. So, I want to finish my story in mixed martial arts, in MMA, first, and once I’m done, then make my complete transition to boxing. I can’t be preparing for an MMA fight, then leave, prepare for a boxing match, come back… I don’t think that would be very professional, would it?,” Topuria said