Ilia Topuria has been making noise about a future outside the UFC, and it sounds like that move could be coming sooner than expected.
The two-weight world champion has already picked up titles at featherweight and lightweight and is scheduled to make his first title defence later in 2026. But he is taking a break from fighting at the moment, and it might end up being more than just a short pause.
‘El Matador’ has always wanted to try his hand at boxing, and even now he says that switch is still on his mind. At 28, with plenty already checked off his list, he might decide to make that change before too long.
Ilia Topuria eyes full-time boxing move after UFC career
Topuria’s approach to a potential boxing career is a bit different from the paths taken by Conor McGregor or Francis Ngannou. He does not want to juggle both sports. Instead, he plans to fully step away from MMA before making the switch.
He said to Marca: “It’s no secret that I always wanted to go and test my skills in boxing, but I think something I’ve always applied to my life is that: he who wants to hunt two rabbits in the end does not hunt either.
“So I want to first finish my story in MMA and once I finish to make my complete transition to boxing because I cannot be preparing for an MMA fight, then go, prepare for a boxing match, return… I think it would not be very professional, right? Because boxing needs a completely different approach.
“It’s a very, very, very different training to which I have to adapt. Obviously they are different times and come on, it’s not an octagon, it’s a ring, and I would have to adapt to it, which takes time, like everything in life.
“So now, at this moment, in mixed martial arts, when I’m done, I don’t think I’m going to be too long if I’m honest in this sport… I’ll make my transition to boxing and I’m going to surprise more than one”.
- READ MORE: Paddy Pimblett claims he could become undisputed UFC champion without facing Ilia Topuria
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