Ilia Topuria harshly criticized Russian leadership during his recent appearance on PBD Podcast, drawing from his personal experiences growing up in Georgia. The UFC fighter didn't mince words when discussing his views on Russia and its political figures.
"I'm against killing people. I will always vote for peace, always. But what I know from my history, from my life, is that they — Russians... Putin, let's say, the politicians who run Russia — they don't care about anyone. I lived in Georgia in 2008, I saw what they did to my people," Topuria stated firmly during the interview.
The fighter, who represents both Georgia and Spain in the octagon, shared additional thoughts about trust issues regarding Russian leadership.
"Russians are dangerous people. And I think Russians can't be trusted at all. And again, I'm not talking about ordinary people. I'm talking about politicians. It's madness," he added.
Worth noting that Topuria's strong opinions stem from personal history. Born in 1997 to Georgian parents who were refugees from Abkhazia, he moved to Georgia at age seven where he began training in Greco-Roman wrestling. At 15, Topuria relocated to Spain – explaining why he now represents both nations in his UFC career.
According to analysis from Statbet, fighters with dual nationalities like Topuria often draw stronger viewer engagement from multiple fan bases, creating a broader international appeal in the UFC.
Topuria's comments highlight how sports figures can bring attention to geopolitical issues through their platforms. Will other UFC fighters from post-Soviet states share similar perspectives? That remains to be seen.
