Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria fights against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Ilia Topuria “So Happy” For Former Opponent After His Win At UFC 314

Ilia Topuria shows his happiness for his old rival at featherweight after he won his fight recently at UFC 314!

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria fights against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ilia Topuria is all the rage right now. After vacating his UFC featherweight title and jumping to lightweight, he has left his aspirations for that belt behind. The stage was set for an epic comeback story or the crowning of a new champion.

The Australian fighter, who dominated the division for years before facing Topruia, once again had the very familiar belt around his waist at UFC 314. Now, his former conqueror has weighed in on the result, and his response might surprise fans.

Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov Backs Away From Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev, Topuria Responds!

Ilia Topuria Shows Respect For Former Rival

Ilia Topuria couldn’t contain his happiness for Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 314. The former champion spoke about Volkanovski’s victory with genuine admiration. The respect he has for Volkanovski was clearly visible in the tone of his voice as he spoke to Joe Rogan on the JRE podcast.

“He’s so great. I was so happy for him this Saturday because he really deserves to get that title back.”

Ilia Topuria says he was happy to see Alexander Volkanovski reclaim the featherweight title 🤝

“I was so happy for him this Saturday because he really deserved to get that title back.”

🎥 @joerogan #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/aWcvIuLUaY
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 16, 2025

These words might shock fans who expected bad blood between the fighters. Combat sports often thrive on rivalry and tension. But Topuria’s reaction shows a refreshing side of sportsmanship. The Georgian-Spanish fighter now has his sights on a different challenge. And that different challenge, of course, is Topuria’s quest for the lightweight championship. He’s made it clear he only wants to fight Islam Makhachev next. The former featherweight king has his sights set on becoming a two-division champion.

Alexander Volkanovski’s Remarkable Comeback Story

Volkanovski’s journey back to the title deserves recognition. The Australian fighter was at a career crossroads after suffering back-to-back knockout losses. First came the shocking defeat to Islam Makhachev in their rematch. Then another KO loss in his featherweight title rematch with Ilia Topuria.

Many fighters might have crumbled under such setbacks. Not Volkanovski. He took a year away from competition to heal and refocus. The champion from the ‘Down Under’ old’s time off clearly paid dividends, as he looked better than ever against Lopes at UFC 314.

At 36 years old, Volkanovski has now cemented his legacy as one of the greatest featherweights ever. His record stands at an impressive 27-4 overall, with an almost perfect 18-1 mark in the featherweight division. His only loss at 145 pounds came against Topuria. With this championship win, he broke the ‘above 35’ curse as well.

In a sport often defined by trash talk, Ilia Topuria’s respect for Volkanovski offers a refreshing change of pace. Topuria could have easily dismissed Volkanovski’s achievement or claimed he would beat him again. Instead, he chose to celebrate his former opponent’s success. And that is what true martial arts is all about!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Ilia Topuria

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!