Ilia Topuria Photo Shows Healed Face Two Weeks After Loss

Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has healed considerably from the facial damage he sustained in his lightweight title loss to Justin Gaethje two weeks ago.

Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili posted a photo on X showing Topuria posing with a young fan, with the swelling around both eyes visibly reduced and the cuts from the UFC Freedom 250 bout nearly healed. Gaethje opened a cut under Topuria's right eye in the opening round and continued to batter his face through the third and fourth rounds before Topuria's corner stopped the fight.

Topuria Vows Rematch After Sight Compromised in Both Eyes

Days after the White House event, Topuria acknowledged the extent of the damage in an Instagram post. "You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too," he wrote to Gaethje, per Sherdog. "No excuses. I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night."

The former two-division champion said he would heal and return stronger. "We will have our rematch," he added in the post.

No date has been announced for Topuria's octagon return.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — New photo sheds light on how Ilia Topuria looks two weeks after title loss