“I used to pray. This is what I do all the time. I wake up in the morning and I pray. I feel thankful for everything that’s happening to me, for the opportunity. I thank the God before I’m getting the victory.” That’s how Ilia Topuria described his current mindset on the Valuetainment podcast. At this moment, Ilia Topuria stands at the pinnacle of the MMA world. He’s not just a champion anymore—he’s a household name among fight fans. Even with the spotlight shining bright and the legacy expanding, the lightweight champion stays firmly rooted. Topuria knows he can’t take all the credit for his success. He boldly credits his success to a higher power and the steadfast support of his family.

Topuria isn’t merely stacking wins inside the Octagon—he’s dominating outside of it as well. Amid the chaos of MMA, it’s evident that his real strength comes from the support he receives at home. Giorgina Uzcategui Badell stands as a steadfast force in Topuria’s life, not merely cheering from the sidelines but actively orchestrating the daily grind, enabling him to hone his skills without distraction. Next up are his two kids, Hugo and his young daughter. Amidst the knockouts and title victories, it’s their smiles that deliver the ultimate satisfaction. They drive him to walk through the door with a grin, regardless of how fierce the fight has been. In a sport defined by grit and glory, Topuria’s home life stands as his greatest triumph.

The couple is pretty active on social media and often shares videos of the full family. Giorgina Uzcategui recently shared a moment from their Easter festivities on Instagram. In the photo, she looked genuinely happy, and captioned it, “Anything along those lines will get you the result you’re looking for! Happy Easter from us. Jesus paid with his blood to give us a full life of victory for those who walk beside him and believe. God is faithful, and so is his word. All things are possible, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE.” She has once again shared a recent story where Topuria can be seen playing with her daughter. This time she captioned her post as, ” Celebrando la vida ❤️” 

The 28-year-old recently opened up about the moment he first met Giorgina Uzcategui Badell, and it turns out there’s more to the story than we previously knew. While fans were already aware that their first spark was ignited over dinner, an encounter that left both of them with butterflies. Topuria this time took things a step further during a candid chat with the Nelk Boys. For the first time, the lightweight champion shared some intimate, never-before-heard details about that special night.

Ilia Topuria defends his wife during a recent interview with Nelk Boys

In a recent video shared by the Nelk Boys, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at their day with Ilia Topuria. While hitting the mats, the UFC lightweight champ let a few personal details slip, including his love for Miami. Topuria didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite place in the U.S.—“Miami,” he said without missing a beat. It also happens to be where Kyle Forgeard and the Nelk crew live, which sparked some friendly banter. Forgeard jokingly suggested that Topuria should get a place there, only for ‘El Matador’ to casually drop the real surprise: “Actually, I met my wife in Miami.”

The room fell silent for a second as the team processed the unexpected revelation. Sensing their shock, Topuria smiled and added, “Yeah, she was living there.” It was a rare, candid moment that gave fans a glimpse of the champion not just as a fighter, but as a man with roots, memories, and love tied to the city he now calls a second home. It’s a common belief that finding lasting love in Miami is nearly impossible—thanks to its flashy lifestyle, fast-paced social scene, and surface-level connections. That’s why Kyle Forgeard was genuinely surprised when Ilia Topuria revealed he met his wife there. “Damn! Who says you can’t meet your wife in Miami?” Forgeard exclaimed. “You gave me hope now, because everyone says you can’t meet your wife in Miami.” However, not everything in the interaction stayed lighthearted. In a separate clip that later went viral on social media, some fans noticed a shift in Topuria’s tone.

At one point, it appeared he felt the Nelk Boys might have crossed a line or shown a lack of respect toward Giorgina Badell. Topuria asked, “But why are you saying that?” . Kyle Forgeard clarified that his comment was just echoing what people commonly say about Miami. But by then, it seemed Ilia Topuria had already taken it a bit personally. He further added, “Because you go to the party and this is the only place you see. But you don’t know there’s another part of Miami, of people that just, they work…”. Nevertheless, it was all cool in the end, and Topuria once again proved how much he respects his wife.

Topuria is currently facing buzz in the MMA world over comments that he’d rather vacate his lightweight title than fight top‑ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan—a stance that drew public criticism from Tsarukyan and his management. What do you think about their relationship. Let us know your thoughts about Ilia Topuria in the comments below.