UFC 298: Inside the world of Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski’s red wine drinking opponent

Ilia Topuria will this weekend attempt to knock off Alexander Volkanovski – having likely drunk half a litre of wine the night before. It’s just one of the UFC fighter’s quirks.

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 10: (R-L) Bryce Mitchell battles Ilia Topuria in their Featherweight fight during the UFC 282 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

He wears turtleneck skivvies, gives red roses to his vanquished opponents and routinely gets drunk on red wine during fight week.

And this weekend at UFC 298, Ilia Topuria is looking to do what no other UFC featherweight has done in 11 fights and beat Alexander Volkanovski.

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Cocky and powerful, Topuria has dynamite in both hands, a wicked if underused grappling game and, yes, enjoys getting thoroughly sloshed just a few days before he fights.

Nicknamed “El Matador”, Topuria is Spanish and Georgian, and his tradition of cracking into a few bottles of vino helps him shed the final few pounds before he weighs in and has become a crucial part of fight week.

“In one of my weight cuts in the past, my nutritionist called me and he said, ‘OK, you can drink half a litre of wine, you can rest and you’ll sleep better’,” Topuria said.

“I was like, ‘Are you sure that I can do that?’

Topuria gives a toast with his team ahead of his win over Bryce Mitchell in 2022. Picture: YouTube

“He was like, ‘Yeah, if you drink half a litre of wine you’ll wake up two pounds (lighter)’.

“I did it and the next day I woke up two pounds less and felt great.

“It came from that moment and now it’s a tradition for the team.”

Surely the undefeated title challenger won’t be indulging in any pinot or merlot before the biggest fight of his life at UFC 298 this weekend?

“Of course!” he said. “I can’t wait for it, it’s tomorrow night.”

Topuria sips a glass of red wine with MMA media personality The Schmo. Picture: YouTube/The Schmo

When Volkanovski heard about Topuria’s alcohol-fuelled weigh-in strategy, the featherweight champion couldn’t believe it and was sure someone had their wires crossed.

“It doesn’t make sense, that’s crazy,” Volkanovski said. “Hopefully they don’t really do that.

“I think they might have got it wrong. Lost in translation, maybe.”

When told the story was spot on, Volkanovski’s response was blunt.

“That’s crazy,” he said. “Maybe there’s some science to it – I know it thins your blood – but you’re putting half a kilo in your body.

“Even if you lose that half a kilo, you’re back where you were, but you’re hungover!

“I’m a calculated guy, I’m trying to make sense of this, but I just don’t get it.

“I need to look into it, not because I’ll do it, just to see why he does it.”

It’s not Topuria’s only unique tradition.

“El Matador” lives up to his nickname by handing every vanquished opponent a single red rose.

“The rose comes from the matadors,” Topuria said. “Every time the matador goes in the bullring, people throw him roses, so that’s where that comes from.

“It comes from Spain, from the culture.”

The superconfident Topuria has already picked out the flower he plans to give to Volkanovski at UFC 298 and said the fight this weekend represented a passing of the torch.

“I bring the evolution of the game, his time has expired,” he said.

“He has achieved so many great things in the sport and he will be remembered as one of the greatest featherweight champions of all time. He deserves that spot.

“But he’s old for the sport. He’s 35, I’m 27. It’s time to move on. It’s time for the new generation and I represent that new generation.”

Volkanovski couldn’t believe Topuria drinks win during fight week. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Topuria is so sure of becoming the featherweight champion this weekend that he is already planning his first title defence.

He wants it to be at the 81,000-seat capacity Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where his beloved Real Madrid plays.

“I’m going to talk with the UFC after this one and I hope we’re finally going to announce the UFC in Spain,” he said. “It’s a big stadium, I would love to fight Conor McGregor.

“McGregor is still one of the biggest names in the sport. He inspired me a lot at the beginning of my career and I would love to share the Octagon with him.

“It’s the old generation with the new generation.”

Topuria secured his title fight with a dominant win over Josh Emmett. Picture: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Volkanovski, who said he had never touched a drop of alcohol during fight week, doesn’t want to hear any hangover-related excuses if he derails the Topuria hype train.

“If that’s what he always does, he can’t use that as an excuse,” Volkanovski said.

“It’s worked for him all the other times but he’s going to lose and that can’t be something he uses – ‘I got too drunk’ – because you’ve done that every other time.

“That’s on you.”

Originally published as UFC 298: Inside the world of Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski’s red wine drinking opponent