“IF ONE GUY NEEDS TO DlE, IT’S NOT GOING TO BE MY GUY.” 🥶
On June 26, 2023 — just two days after Ilia Topuria’s dominant win over Josh Emmett in a non-title main event — Ariel Helwani asked his then-girlfriend (now wife), Giorgina, what it’s like watching your partner fight inside the Octagon.
Her response?
“To be honest, I felt really bad, but for the other guy… If one needs to die, it’s not going to be my guy.”
Then came the belief behind it all:
“We believe things and then we see them. Most people are like, ‘oh maybe, maybe’ — and I always tell him, ‘It’s already in our mind. You’re going to be the world champ….You already are the world champion.’”
Fast forward two years, and Ilia has now rattled off what might be the greatest 3-fight stretch in UFC history:
👊🏼 Knocked out Alex Volkanovski to win the UFC featherweight title
🇪🇸 Became the first man to ever KO Max Holloway, the former featherweight and BMF champion
🇬🇪 And now, tonight, moved up to lightweight and knocked out Charles Oliveira — the former champion and UFC’s all-time leader in finishes — in the first round to become a two-division UFC champion
They say behind every strong man is a strong woman — and there’s no doubt that’s the case with Ilia. From a name to a legacy — Ilia is breathing life into the “La Leyenda” nickname…with his family by his side.
@TopuriaIlia@arielhelwani
“If you’re an MMA fan, Ilia Topuria has knocked out your favorite fighter”
@DoubleVodkaDon & @jackmac give their final thoughts on UFC 317 @NewAmsterdam
This is the face of animal cruelty. A bait dog rescued from Chicago Lawn. Thank you to those that found him. I hope the monsters that did this are discovered & jailed