As one of the most promising fighters from the last few years, Ilia Topuria quickly became a fan favorite. From his work in the bantamweight-lightweight classes, Topuria has consolidated himself as one of the most exciting fighters to blend BJJ with Mexican boxing techniques. Formerly finding a place as number one in the UFC pound-for-pound ratings, Topuria seemed to be at the top of his career.
As of late 2025, Topuria has stated that he won’t be fighting in the first quarter of 2026, citing personal reasons. While we don’t know what these reasons could be, this does raise some general questions and points about the effect that the spotlight of UFC has on competitors in terms of expanding career possibilities. There’s a lot of pressure and potential in equal parts here, and it’s not just in competing directly.
No Longer the Fringe
Love it or hate it, the UFC is no longer the small, underground, and underrepresented competition it once was. The UFC now brings in over a billion dollars annually, with its popularity on the public stage now on the rise. While there are still disputes over pay and treatment of fighters, the potential winnings, especially for high performers like Topuria, are higher than ever.
Such public interest is mirrored in the public eye through the growth of franchised and related media. Other popular forms of entertainment like jackpot slots are prime illustrations of this, with titles like UFC Gold Blitz Extreme finding fame alongside more traditional titles like White Witch and The Khan. As outside media like slots increasingly take inspiration from UFC, the possibilities of success outside of just fights become undeniable.
We have to imagine that Topuria understands that we now live in an age where people who get their starts in real or performative combat sports can leverage popularity into other media. Many names in sports like boxing, MMA, and professional wrestling have gone on to some of the most lucrative careers in entertainment outside of the ring. Some, like Dave Bautista, are even finding critical success alongside their additional financial security.
Time for Growth
Whatever the personal reasons are for Topuria’s departure, it’s a practical guarantee that part of his mind will be on his development as a fighter. Whether through direct practice to build tactics against likely opponents or approaching UFC from a more introspective level, time away provides opportunity for growth. This isn’t really a case where atrophy is inevitable; it could be that time away is exactly what he needs to reclaim the number one pound-for-pound position on his return.
Still mine 😎 pic.twitter.com/1Z7qWeXXGM
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) July 20, 2025
While it’s anyone’s guess on why exactly Topuria is taking personal time away from the ring, it is an interesting thought experiment to consider what this hiatus means for his eventual return. Will he emerge on the other side stronger than ever, like the butterfly post-metamorphosis? Or is he merely missing vital opportunities to further compound his success early in the year?
Even though his direct involvement in fighting may be reduced, there are myriad possibilities surrounding and related to the UFC so that, with the proper angle, he could still be set for life. Of course, if he came back soon to pick up from where he left off, we wouldn’t be opposed to that either.