It has been more than two months since Ilia Topuria’s undefeated run came crashing down against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. The Spaniard was beaten up so badly that his corner was forced to call it quits on the stool after the fourth round. Now, after keeping a relatively low profile, Topuria has finally broken his silence on social media.
In his first social media post since commenting in the aftermath of his devastating UFC White House loss, the former double champion reflected on the defeat with a short video essay framed as a message to his son, Hugo.
The emotional video showed a more vulnerable side of Topuria. He acknowledged how difficult it was for his son to watch him lose, but said going through that moment together ultimately made them stronger. He also emphasized that losing is simply a part of life and that true character is revealed by how someone responds after falling.
View this post on Instagram
ALSO READ: Valentina Shevchenko Sidelined for a Year as UFC 332 Gets New Vacant Flyweight Title Main Event
Now, Topuria has offered an even deeper look at what happened after his first MMA defeat. On Saturday, “El Matador” returned with a lengthy 9-part piece titled “This Is Me,” taking readers through his entire journey in MMA published on his website.
In the vulnerable piece, Topuria recalled waking up the morning after his loss to Gaethje and struggling to recognize the battered face staring back at him. He also revealed that he suffered fractures to both orbital bones, a broken septum, and a broken foot during the brutal back-and-forth fight.
Interestingly, Topuria also appeared to be leaving behind some of the ultra-confident mindset that defined much of his rise as he looks toward his eventual return. Rather than trying to erase the first defeat of his career, he made it clear that he has accepted it as part of his story.
He said, “I do not want to come back to erase a defeat. I cannot erase it, and I do not want to. It is part of me. I do not want anyone to see me as a man who never falls, because that would be a lie. I want them to see a man who can be knocked to the ground and who keeps making the same decision: to get back up.”
Topuria further added, “I do not know what my next fight will look like, and I cannot promise any result. But I can promise something that depends entirely on me: you will not see me stop trying.”
View this post on Instagram
The nine-part essay covers almost every major chapter of Topuria’s fighting journey. It begins with Prologue — Character, where he reflects on what winning and losing really mean. Winning can show what someone is capable of achieving, but losing reveals who they truly are. For Topuria, that is what ultimately matters.
In Chapter 1 — The Promise, a young Topuria loses at a European jiu-jitsu championship in Lisbon. Rather than allowing the defeat to discourage him, he makes himself a promise that he is going to “be somebody.” His dream is about more than becoming a successful fighter; he also wants to build a better life for his family.
Chapter 2 — Coming Home focuses on Topuria’s reunion with his parents in Spain after almost six years apart. Being reunited with his family forces him to adapt to a completely different life and teaches him that home is ultimately about the people you love.
Chapter 3 — Learning to Believe takes him back to his difficult childhood, including the 2008 Georgia war. Those experiences teach him that even the hardest moments eventually pass. As he becomes more involved in combat sports, he develops a strong belief in faith, hard work, and repetition.
In Chapter 4 — The Leap, Topuria decides at just 15 years old to fully commit himself to fighting. His early amateur and professional experiences teach him how to deal with fear, overcome setbacks, and keep pushing forward regardless of what stands in his way.
Then comes Chapter 5 — The Dream Becomes Real, when everything begins to change. While recovering from COVID-19, Topuria receives the opportunity to make his UFC debut on just eight days’ notice against Youssef Zalal on October 11, 2020. He has to deal with a massive weight cut, visa and medical issues, travel problems, and plenty of uncertainty, but he takes the opportunity anyway. He makes weight, steps into the Octagon, and gets the win.
View this post on Instagram
Chapter 6 — The Conquest follows Topuria’s meteoric rise from UFC prospect to champion. He beats Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to capture the featherweight title, knocks out Max Holloway at UFC 308, and later moves up to lightweight to defeat Charles Oliveira for another belt at UFC 317.
But after reaching goals that once seemed impossible, Topuria is left asking himself, “What now?” He realizes that constantly chasing the next achievement will never be enough and that there is more value in enjoying the journey itself.
Chapter 7 — The Fall brings the biggest setback of his career as Topuria suffers his first professional loss and walks away with serious injuries. Instead of making excuses, he accepts what happened and finds a new sense of respect for himself because he knows he gave everything he had.
In Chapter 8 — The Mirror, Topuria turns inward and reflects on his career, his defeat, and what really drives him. Despite everything that happened against Gaethje, he realizes that his love for fighting has not disappeared. If anything, it has become even stronger.
Chapter 9 — The Return sees Topuria begin looking forward again. He understands that one loss does not define a person and that what matters most is having the courage to get back up and keep going.
Finally, the Epilogue — What Remains brings the entire story full circle. Belts, victories, and accomplishments may eventually fade, but character remains. After all the highs and lows of his career, Topuria is left with the same message that has carried him forward from the beginning: keep moving forward.
Topuria was ranked No. 2 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings before his setback against Gaethje, and much of his public persona during his rise was built around supreme confidence. He famously changed his Instagram bio to “UFC featherweight champion” before knocking out Volkanovski and regularly spoke with little hesitation about how he would deal with the future Hall of Famers standing in his way.
Now, though, fans are seeing a different side of ‘El Matador.’ The confidence is still there, but it is being paired with a much deeper understanding of failure, resilience, and what it means to get back up. And with Topuria now focused on the next chapter of his career, it will be fascinating to see how his comeback unfolds.
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.
