Fans have been eagerly waiting for Ilia Topuria to return to the Octagon. As things stand, it has been nearly five months since the Spaniard was stopped at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The former two-division champion took so much damage that his corner had to pull him out of the fight on the stool after the fourth round.
Topuria suffered two broken orbital bones, a cracked septum, and a shattered foot. However, despite the severity of his injuries, he has already returned to social media and resumed training ahead of his next outing.
Footage of him working on his striking alongside boxers like Lasha Guruli in his native Georgia has given fans a glimpse of his recovery. More recently, he even visited the iconic Didgori Battle Memorial on Mount Didgori, a site that stands as a symbol of Georgian resilience and victory.
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Amid all this, Dana White has finally offered an update on Topuria’s potential UFC return. During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, the UFC CEO told the host that the former champion could be back in early 2027.
He said, “In 2027. He’ll come back in early 2027. We’re working on that, too. That entire lightweight division, you’ve got Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, Holloway. The whole top 10 is straight killers and the most badass division we have right now.”
“He’ll be back in ’27. We’re working on that too.”
@DanaWhite confirms Ilia Topuria’s return to #UFC will happen next year. https://t.co/tbRDbrnMo4
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) November 4, 2026
While White didn’t reveal who could welcome the Spaniard back to the Octagon, Topuria’s camp has been pushing for an immediate rematch with Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title.
However, with the American’s future still uncertain, Gaethje could potentially vacate the belt. If that happens, Topuria could find himself facing Arman Tsarukyan for the vacant gold.
Paddy Pimblett is another name in the mix. The Englishman has called out Topuria for a grudge match by suggesting a season of The Ultimate Fighter. The proposed matchup would finally settle their long-running rivalry, which dates back to 2022.
With White pointing toward early 2027, fans could potentially see Topuria make his return at UFC 337, UFC 338, or UFC 339. Those events are expected to take place in February, March, and April 2027, respectively.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
