Ilia Topuria - trash talks and Quotes
Destiny Spoken Aloud, Dominance Executed on Schedule
In a sport where confidence is often mistaken for noise, Ilia Topuria operates on a different frequency. Known as “El Matador,” Topuria doesn’t hype fights—he announces outcomes. Long before the belt touched his waist, he had already written “UFC Champion” into his identity, treating the future as something already settled. Undefeated, composed, and surgically violent, Ilia represents a new era where belief isn’t motivational—it’s operational.
Topuria’s verbal style is defined by manifested greatness and unshakeable self-belief. He speaks calmly, almost clinically, about inevitability. His definitive quote
“I don’t believe in luck; I believe in destiny”
isn’t bravado. It’s a thesis. Ilia doesn’t argue with doubters; he dismisses the premise that doubt matters. This psychological posture creates an aura opponents must step into before the first exchange—an advantage long before the cage door closes.
That mindset places Topuria squarely in SportzOnly’s Supreme Confidence, Ambition, and Technical Excellence categories. Like the great self-manifesters before him, he acts as if the championship is a checkpoint, not a destination. His pre-fight prophecy against Alexander Volkanovski—predicting a finish on foreign soil—wasn’t meant to intimidate fans. It was meant to inform history. When the lights went out, Ilia didn’t celebrate surprise; he confirmed expectation.
Inside the octagon, Topuria’s dominance is calculated and complete. He blends elite boxing fundamentals with crushing grappling pressure, forcing opponents to defend on multiple fronts without reprieve. Speed, power, and decision-making converge into a style that feels inevitable once momentum shifts. Against legends like Max Holloway, Ilia showed that respect and ruthlessness can coexist—honoring the past while decisively closing its chapter. His post-fight words reflected humility without dilution: victory acknowledged, legacy advanced.
Ilia’s identity adds another layer to his story. Georgian blood. Spanish heart. Two nations carried into one goal. His heritage isn’t a branding angle—it’s grounding. He became a man in Spain, found his discipline there, and now represents both flags with the same clarity he brings to fighting. That duality reinforces his global appeal and situates him as a true international champion in a sport that increasingly rewards reach as much as results.
In today’s MMA landscape, Ilia Topuria’s words matter because they reset expectations. He doesn’t ask whether he belongs among icons—he positions himself as the next reference point. Comparisons to Conor McGregor are inevitable, but Ilia rejects imitation.
“I’m not trying to be the next Conor; I’m the first Ilia Topuria,”
he says—and his performances support the claim. The confidence is quieter. The execution colder.
Below is a chronological timeline of Ilia Topuria’s most defining statements—prophecies fulfilled, respect earned, and dominance calmly declared. Read closely. With El Matador, the future isn’t predicted. It’s scheduled.
Ilia Topuria's Statements About Other Fighters
“Neither one [is a threat]. The hardest fight is always with myself. Overcoming the battles, the difficult moments that i face on a daily basis, that's the hardest fight, because i feel superior to everyone. In terms of skills, bravery, and courage, i feel superior to Arman and Islam.”
– via the Eldoberdan MMA interview, downplaying the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev while referencing his current personal struggles.
“That wrestling he thinks he has, we'll see how well it works on me... They are so cocky and arrogant. I would really love to submit him in front of Khabib, and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I'll gladly step on his head too”
– via interview with Eldoberdan MMA, discussing his plan to humiliate Islam Makhachev by using his own grappling against him.
“He's had his chance to fight for the title and he pulled out. Maybe he had to change his underwear after making that decision.”
– via Eldoberdan MMA, mockingly dismissing Arman Tsarukyan’s claims to a title shot by referencing his withdrawal from a previous scheduled championship bout
“I’ve always wanted that fight. For some reason, he hasn’t accepted it... When you’re in the octagon with me, you’ll realize that I’m not Jack Della Maddalena, I’m not Dan Hooker... I would really love to submit him in front of Khabib, and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I’ll gladly step on his head too”
– via Eldoberdan MMA, firing a verbal heatseeker at Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov during an interview released on December 22, 2025..
“I’ve always wanted that fight. For some reason, he hasn’t accepted it... When you’re in the octagon with me, you’ll realize that I’m not Jack Della Maddalena, I’m not Dan Hooker... I would really love to submit him in front of Khabib, and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I’ll gladly step on his head too”
– via Eldoberdan MMA, firing a verbal heatseeker at Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov during an interview released on December 22, 2025..
“Neither one [is a threat]. The hardest fight is always with myself. Overcoming the battles, the difficult moments that i face on a daily basis, that's the hardest fight, because i feel superior to everyone. In terms of skills, bravery, and courage, i feel superior to Arman and Islam.”
– via the Eldoberdan MMA interview, downplaying the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev while referencing his current personal struggles.
“I always said he looked like someone who's a super entertaining guy who did a superb job. He had his slips with a tweet that he made about georgia. But i think we all learn from our mistakes. Deep down i notice that he is a person who understands family problems, personal problems [and] respects it.”
– during a media interaction at a WOW FC event, seemingly burying the hatchet with Paddy Pimblett by expressing appreciation for Pimblett's sympathy regarding his personal issues, noting that Pimblett "understands family problems, personal problems [and] respects it.
“If Justin Gaethje wins, the ufc has different plans that i can't talk about at this moment”
– via Carlos Contreras Legaspi, stating that if Justin Gaethje is victorious in his fight, the UFC already has "different plans" for him
“Brother, life is full of twists and turns, but to us, you will always be the best. You will come back much stronger”
– via Instagram stories, reacting to Merab Dvalishvili's loss against Petr Yan at UFC323
“Paddy win your next fight. Hands up, chin down... and Arman Petuh, this dance is for you”
– via X, offering advice to Paddy Pimblett for his upcoming bout and using the derogatory Russian slang term "Petuh" to address Arman Tsarukyan.
“Paddy win your next fight. Hands up, chin down... and Arman Petuh, this dance is for you”
– via X, offering advice to Paddy Pimblett for his upcoming bout and using the derogatory Russian slang term ""Petuh"" to address Arman Tsarukyan.
“Thanks for the support, brother. All the best for you and your family”
– via X responded to Max Holloway's support
“I'd like to fight Paddy if they don't let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam”
– via Álvaro Colmenero.
“ISLAM did his Job. What he always does Fight Super Boring... But anyways, hopefully [ME VS ISLAM] also happens. They would see a very desperate Islam trying to get a dominant position and catch his breath. And they would see me with a lot of spark to put him to sleep. Which in the end, I would achieve”
– via [Alvaro Colmenero], criticizing Islam Makhachev's style and confidently predicting a knockout victory in a future matchup
“If the UFC won't let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam, I would really like to fight Islam in the third weight category. Let's see, maybe I'll have one more fight [against Paddy Pimblett]. Then in summer, there's a date when they'll let me move up to welterweight, and I'll fight for the third belt.Or maybe they'll create a new belt called the pound for pound title at a catchweight. So I'll fight for the pound for pound belt. Let's see, plenty of options”
– via an interview with Álvaro Colmenero, laying out scenarios for a super fight with Islam Makhachev.
“Islam did his job. What he always does fight super boring...But anyways, hopefully [ME VS ISLAM] also happens. They would see a very desperate Islam trying to get a dominant position and catch his breath. And they would see me with a lot of spark to put him to sleep. Which in the end, I would achieve”
– criticizing Islam Makhachev's fighting style and confidently predicting a knockout win in a future matchup.
“Thank God we got one more victory. I'm so proud of you brother. All your hard work has paid off”
– praising his brother, Aleksandre Topuria, for his dominant victory against Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Qatar.
“Arman, every time we see each other in person you freeze up like a scared duck with no idea what to do. You know I handle you however I want. I fight whoever the UFC chooses. And remember I slapped you and you just laughed, then you go around acting like a gangster. So keep going, you're on the right path... just a few levels below me, kid”
– responding to Arman Tsarukyan's callouts and alleging Tsarukyan shows him fear in person.
“I promise, I am going to fight Makhachev at welterweight and I am going to beat him”
– pledging to move up and defeat Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title.
“Jack needs an entire camp dedicated just to wrestling. What a disappointment of a champion. You should go to Georgia to learn something.Islam, you need something you can’t train: emotion. You’re the most boring thing in this game. Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep.”
– reacted to Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 322
“Jack needs an entire camp dedicated just to wrestling. What a disappointment of a champion. You should go to Georgia to learn something.Islam, you need something you can’t train: emotion. You’re the most boring thing in this game. Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep.”
– reacted to Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 322
“There's really nothing official at the moment. I haven't had any official conversations with [the UFC] either. Everything is rumors so far. As soon as I get the call and we go into the details, I'll be able to tell you more. But for now, honestly, it's just all rumors.”
– reacted to Paddy's callout via Diario AS
“If it were to me, I think I'd rather fight Paddy because there's a history between us. And I think it would be a much more entertaining fight for the fans. At the end of the day, I compete to entertain everyone and give them a unique experience, and I think with Paddy, we could achieve that.”
– answers for question 'who would you prefer to fight next Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett' via Diario AS
“Merab is not normal. I told him he needs to change weight classes, because he will 100 per cent win a second belt. I have no doubts about what happens in that [Volkanovski] fight. It ends with Merab winning.”
– via Betsson Sport
“If Islam loses, he may as well go back to Dagestan, to his farm and continue shepherding his sheep. But if he wins, I’ll definitely move up. Definitely. 100 percent”
– via Giorgi Kokiashvili
“I want to fight Islam Makhachev at the White House.I think it would be one of the biggest fights in UFC history: no one has ever fought for a third title, and Islam has dominantly finished everything he needed to do in his division and then changed weight classes. I think it’s a fight of a giant magnitude, which suits us all, as well as the UFC”
– via Giorgi Kokiashvili
“Brother, we've reached the point where your victories seem almost normal.but we all know how hard it is to get there. I say it with pride: you're a living legend!!!!an example of hard work, sacrifice, and heart.Beyond the fighter, you're an incredible person, with a soul too big for your chest. We love you, we support you, and we're with you every step of the way.”
– reacted to Merab's win at UFC 320
“You’re literally an idiot”
Read all statements about Terence Crawford
“You say you’re an MMA fan but you don’t even know who I am… interesting. The first time we met you told me ‘good luck this week with your fight.’ Your memory fails you… and soon your chin will too. I’ll represent the entire MMA community. Pound for pound #1 in real fights vs the pound for pound boxer.”
Read all statements about Terence Crawford
“First he calls me drunk... then he walks out to MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I'll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring. And Canelo, I'll save you a round after him.”
Read all statements about Terence Crawford
“I won't talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon. I'll talk about what would happen in a ring. I put him to sleep in the first contact!”
Read all statements about Terence Crawford