Welcome to the UFC: Aleksandre Topuria
Added 2025-01-22 22:46:46 +0000 UTCIt’s clear that Aleksandre Topuria is getting this opportunity largely due to his brother’s influence. It’s hard to argue that he earned it through fighting, given his lack of regional titles, notable wins, and extended periods of inactivity. After a six-year layoff, he returned in 2021 but fought only once a year from 2021 to 2023 and didn’t compete at all in 2024.
There’s no solid indication of Topuria’s true level as a fighter. I’ve watched his last three fights, and while his performances from 2015 are irrelevant to his current form, his recent fights don’t provide much clarity either. None of those fights lasted more than two minutes, he hasn’t faced adversity, and his opponents’ combined record is a lackluster 11-28-1.
Topuria fights out of an orthodox stance and showcases skill with his lead left hand. While his power primarily comes from his right hand, his left is effective for jabs, body shots, and lead left hooks. Based on tape, wrestling and grappling appear to be his primary strengths. He’s shown the ability to pass guard efficiently, secure dominant positions, and deliver damaging ground-and-pound.
That said, we still don’t know how good Topuria truly is. His brother Ilia has claimed he’s a future champion and even suggested Aleksandre might surpass him—a lofty assertion that remains to be proven. The UFC, however, isn’t giving Aleksandre an easy debut. He’s being tested immediately against one of their brighter prospects, Cody Haddon. This matchup should provide some much-needed answers about Topuria’s potential.
