There’s a good handful of debuting fighters at UFC 312 in Sydney this weekend, but none is likely to get the attention that Aleksandre Topuria does. That’s what happens when you’re the brother of reigning featherweight champ Ilia Topuria, which is no doubt why the promotion has signed Aleksandre direct to the company, rather than funneling him through the Contender Series or TUF.
Aleksandre Topuria
Standing at five-foot-seven
Fighting at 135 lbs (Bantamweight)
29-years-old
Georgia
Training out of Climent Club
A pro record of 5-1
3 KO/TKOs, 2 Submission’s
How he will fare in the UFC
It’s clear that Aleksandre Topuria is getting this opportunity largely due to his brother’s influence. It’s hard to argue that he earned it through fighting, given his lack of regional titles, notable wins, and extended periods of inactivity. After a six-year layoff, he returned in 2021 but fought only once a year from 2021 to 2023 and didn’t compete at all in 2024.
There’s no solid indication of Topuria’s true level as a fighter. I’ve watched his last three fights, and while his performances from 2015 are irrelevant to his current form, his recent fights don’t provide much clarity either. None of those fights lasted more than two minutes, he hasn’t faced adversity, and his opponents’ combined record is a lackluster 11-28-1.
Topuria fights out of an orthodox stance and showcases skill with his lead left hand. While his power primarily comes from his right hand, his left is effective for jabs, body shots, and lead left hooks. Based on tape, wrestling and grappling appear to be his primary strengths. He’s shown the ability to pass guard efficiently, secure dominant positions, and deliver damaging ground-and-pound.
That said, we still don’t know how good Topuria truly is. His brother Ilia has claimed he’s a future champion and even suggested Aleksandre might surpass him— a rather lofty assertion that remains to be proven.
