Ilia Topuria’s former head coach explains parting of ways before UFC 317: ‘He wants to fly away’
Ilia Topuria’s longtime head coach Jorge Climent has officially confirmed a mutual parting of the ways ahead of Topuria’s opportunity to win his second UFC belt.
Topuria faces Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 29 in Las Vegas for the vacant lightweight title. MMA Fighting confirmed earlier this week that Topuria, along with his brother UFC bantamweight Aleksandre Topuria, parted ways with the Climent brothers, which is accurate information, according to Jorge, citing logistical reasons.
“It’s real,” Climent told Submission Radio. “He [went] to live [in] Madrid, and I have my own project here with my brother... Ilia [went] to Madrid. He [has] his own gym in his house and he wants all of the energy on him.
“We don’t work anymore together. He go on his own, and we are in [ours].”
Climent has been with Topuria throughout his incredible, undefeated rise in the sport of mixed martial arts, including a UFC featherweight title win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024, along with becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway in his lone title defense at UFC 308 in October. Topuria went on to vacate the title on a quest to become lightweight champion.
Despite the Topuria brothers no longer working with the Climent brothers, the relationship is great and there’s no hard feelings on either side. Climent feels Topuria will defeat Oliveira at UFC 317, as well as any other opponent he faces in the future.
“You feel, always, this is not good for the sentimental feeling, but this [is] life,” Climent explained. “We go with him on the journey and now he grow, and he wants to fly away, you know? We are very proud to [go as far as we did] with him. We are very proud for everything he [has done]. ... Of course, we are a little sad, but I want everything in his life [to] continue going well. I want all good for him and his brother, and I think that they do the same for us. ...
“I don’t know what can be in the future. We have our own [direction right now] We love him. We love his brother. We know he’s going to [beat] everybody that [he fights] because he’s the best.
“Always, he’s going to be like our son.”