UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria says he is the aim of an extortion strive intelligent false allegations of domestic abuse and has in brief stepped away from rivals while the matter is addressed.
Topuria issued a public assertion addressing the allegations after confirming he wouldn’t compete within the early fraction of 2026, a building that led the UFC to transfer forward with an intervening time lightweight title fight in his absence.
“My initial decision to stay mute used to be made entirely to provide protection to my kids, who are the largest fraction of my lifestyles,” Topuria acknowledged, in a put up to social media. “Then once more, I even procure shut to like that silence, beneath these conditions, does no longer defend the reality. It permits false narratives to rob defend.”
Topuria acknowledged he has confronted “excessive and unacceptable strain, including threats to disseminate false allegations of domestic abuse unless financial requires procure been met,” and described the claims as “fully fake.” He added that he has retained evidence including audio recordings and written communications, which he acknowledged procure been submitted to judicial authorities “to pursue real stagger for attempted extortion, falsification of evidence, misappropriation of funds and private property, and multiple threats.”
The champion acknowledged he wouldn’t make additional public statements on the misfortune, bringing up that this decision used to be made “out of respect for my kids and the continuing real complaints,” and requested that speculation be evaded because the real course of continues.
Topuria, who remains unbeaten as a talented and has held UFC titles in multiple weight classes, last competed in June 2025. His temporary absence has resulted within the promotion scheduling an intervening time championship bout at lightweight.
Concluding his assertion, Topuria acknowledged that those shut to him “can attest that I even procure by no approach engaged in violence of any kind, and that my lifestyles and profession procure continuously been guided by self-discipline, respect, and integrity,” including, “The truth does no longer require quantity — it requires information.”
