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Ilia Topuria sets his sights on UFC return.© NDTV Photo Library

Ilia Topuria has confirmed he is preparing to return to the UFC. This comes five months after he suffered his first professional defeat against Justin Gaethje. The former two-division champion posted photos from Georgia's Didgori Battle Memorial with a message. Topuria has not fought since losing the lightweight title to Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. Gaethje won by corner stoppage TKO after four rounds, handing Topuria his first loss and leaving him with a 17-1 record.

Topuria returns to his roots with a cryptic message for UFC rivals

Ilia Topuria shared images from the Didgori Battle Memorial on Mount Didgori, outside Tbilisi, where he posed and ran up the memorial steps. “I returned to where it all began. Not to reminisce, but to remember. The Matador is coming back," he wrote via Instagram.

The 29-year-old suffered severe injuries in the Gaethje match, including non-displaced fractures on both his orbitals, a broken septum and a fracture in his foot. He received a 180-day medical suspension and a 60-day no-contact period.

Topuria later said doctors had cleared him to compete. He resumed training in September and posted footage from the mats with the caption, “Back to the office.”

Topuria eyes February comeback as UFC return plans take shape

Ilia Topuria's trainer, Jesus Gallo, has said that the former champion could make a comeback in February 2027. The UFC hasn't revealed the opponent, date, or venue.

However, Justin Gaethje has hinted at the fact that his next lightweight title defence will be against Arman Tsarukyan. That would leave Topuria to pursue another route back to title contention.

Paddy Pimblett has emerged as a leading candidate. The Englishman has a long-running rivalry with Topuria dating back to a hotel altercation in 2022 and has vowed to send him back to featherweight.

Pimblett promises to beat Topuria next time

Paddy Pimblett expressed disappointment that he was not the fighter who took Ilia Topuria's unbeaten record but promised to beat him when they meet. Paddy also underwent stem cell treatment and is expected to be back to fighting in early 2027.

A Topuria-Pimblett fight could land in February, potentially as a co-main event, or later in 2027 if the UFC chooses to build it into a major main event.

For Topuria, the comeback represents a chance to rebuild after a punishing defeat. For the lightweight division, it adds another high-profile contender to a title picture already crowded with Gaethje, Tsarukyan, Pimblett and Alex Volkanovski.