Ilia Topuria says brother stopped fight with Gaethje and saved his sight
Topuria told the "Fight Disciples" podcast that his brother halted the contest after he developed serious vision problems in the bout with Justin Gaethje.
Ilia Topuria said his brother's decision to stop their UFC fight against Justin Gaethje likely saved more than his career — it preserved his eyesight. Speaking on the podcast "Fight Disciples", the Georgian‑Spanish fighter described how severe vision problems after strikes from Gaethje put him at risk if he had returned to the octagon for the fifth round.
"Alexandre's decision to stop the fight saved my sight. If he hadn't stopped me, I probably would never have been able to fight again," Topuria said on the podcast.
Corner intervention after the fourth round
Topuria's corner halted the contest during the break between the fourth and fifth rounds, after he suffered significant vision issues following blows from Gaethje. Although a ringside physician had reportedly recommended stopping the fight earlier, Topuria had pushed to continue — until his brother took responsibility and refused to let him go back out.
"I'm very grateful to my brother for deciding to stop me. I love what I do and it would be very hard for me if a doctor or anyone else told me I couldn't fight anymore," he added.
Following his first professional loss to Gaethje, Topuria said he plans to return to competition during 2027. Potential matchups being mentioned include Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan, but no official fight has been confirmed yet.
Photo: press material from the event
