Ilia Topuria Draws ‘El Matador’ Chants at RKENA x PFL in Tbilisi

Ilia Topuria turned up unannounced at the RKENA x PFL event in Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 17, 2026, and the reaction was immediate. As the Spanish fighter arrived at Tbilisi Sports Palace, the crowd broke into chants of “El Matador,” his nickname. The Ilia Topuria RKENA PFL appearance gave fans a rare glimpse of the former two-division UFC champion outside the octagon and underlined his popularity beyond the UFC.

A rivalry on hold, a rematch still sought

Topuria’s last outing ended in his first MMA defeat, a loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. He has made no secret of his desire for an immediate rematch. The tension between the two escalated on June 14 when Topuria accused Gaethje of tampering with his gloves.

Gaethje has not closed the door on a second fight, but he has seemingly indicated that Arman Tsarukyan is a more deserving contender. Neither fighter is scheduled to compete in 2026, leaving Topuria’s next UFC opponent and date unresolved.

RKENA dominates cross-promotional card

The Tbilisi event featured a six-fight RKENA vs. PFL lineup as part of a 15-fight card. RKENA fighters won five of the six matchups. Topuria watched from cageside as Nikoloz Abramishvili earned a submission win over Aaron McKenzie. Ibragim Ibragimov also won by second-round submission against Nika Kupravishvili. David Mgoyan and Ekaterina Yar were among the other competitors on the card.

Back in Georgia, back in training

Topuria is currently in Georgia training with boxing star Lasha Guruli and grappling coach Beka Guruli. He announced on social media that he was back in sparring. His recent training videos show work with neurocognitive equipment, pad work, boxing drills and reaction training.

He also shared a motivational message about battles, heart, work and being a warrior, reflecting the mindset he is bringing to his eventual return.

Building WOW FC outside the cage

Beyond his UFC career, Topuria is a major stakeholder and part-owner of WOW FC, a Spanish MMA promotion. He has appeared at WOW FC events in Madrid, Valencia and Seville, using his star power to raise the promotion’s profile.

His presence in Tbilisi served a similar purpose, drawing attention to the RKENA x PFL collaboration. While his UFC future remains uncertain, Topuria’s visibility and fan connection are as strong as ever.