Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in round two at UFC 298 in February 2024, winning the featherweight championship. At 27 and undefeated in 15 UFC fights, Topuria became the first Georgian-born UFC champion in history. The finish ended Volkanovski's 13-fight unbeaten run and four-year title reign.
#1 — The KO of Volkanovski (UFC 298, February 2024)
Topuria entered UFC 298 as a significant underdog against a champion considered by many the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. Volkanovski had beaten Max Holloway three times, won the featherweight title in 2019, and successfully challenged Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 284. What Topuria showed in their fight was a level of explosive power Volkanovski had not faced before at featherweight — a right hand in round two that put the champion down, followed by ground strikes that completed the finish at 3:52. The performance was immediately placed in the conversation for the best upset in featherweight history. Topuria El Matador shirts reference this specific moment directly.
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#2 — The Holloway Title Defense (UFC 308, October 2024)
Topuria's first title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi was a more complete performance than the Volkanovski upset. Holloway, who had produced the greatest BMF defence against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 only months earlier, came in as the most dangerous striker Topuria had faced. Topuria dominated through wrestling and precision striking, finishing in round three. The back-to-back finishes of Volkanovski and Holloway — two of the five best featherweights of the modern era — confirmed Topuria as a generational talent, not a one-fight wonder. The Topuria collection documents both title wins.
Where to Start — Entry Points for New Topuria Fans
Watch UFC 298 first — the atmosphere, the underdog narrative, and the clinical finish tell the full story. Then watch UFC 308 for the title defense. For the full pre-title picture, the Bryce Mitchell fight at UFC 282 shows the complete Topuria toolkit — wrestling, submission threat, and the right hand that would become his signature. The El Matador collection pairs with Max Holloway Blessed shirts for fans who follow featherweight closely.
Topuria Merch — The Georgian Champion's Collection
Ilia Topuria is Georgian-born, Spain-based, trained at Team Lonas — the geographic story of a new kind of UFC champion. The Topuria El Matador graphic tees carry that multicultural identity. Black and white oversized tees on heavyweight cotton, printed to order, available S to 3XL from €34. Also explore Max Holloway and Conor McGregor shirts for the full featherweight title lineage.
