Ilia Topuria Reflects on Loss to Justin Gaethje, Targets Return After April

In June, Ilia Topuria suffered the first defeat of his career when he defended his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House. Topuria entered the bout as a heavy favorite, but Gaethje delivered one of the biggest upsets of the year by battering Topuria to a corner stoppage at the end of the fourth round.

After keeping quiet for months, Topuria addressed the setback in a preview clip of an upcoming interview released by ABC Diario on Thursday. "I’ve experienced the worst day of my career," Topuria said. "Was something off is a question I’ve had to face over the last five or six months, but one thing is clear: you either win or you lose; and I lost." Topuria also openly reflected on his career accomplishments, noting, "I’ve achieved everything, and after this fight, what else? Maybe I’ll even retire."

Despite floating the idea of retirement, Topuria appears set on stepping back into the Octagon. While UFC CEO Dana White stated earlier this week that the promotion is targeting Topuria's return in early 2027, the fighter outlined an earlier timetable. "From April onward is when we are considering returning," Topuria said, promising he will return "like you have never seen him before" before adding of his prospective target, "I’ll eat him like a sausage, which he is."