In an emotional statement released only five minutes ago, the mother of the UFC weight champion, lli topuria He broke the silence about the difficult moments his son lived during childhood, revealing that the Hispanic-Georgian fighter faced serious mental health problems that, in many cases, they prevented him from developing fully within the mixed martial arts in his early years.

“Please understand my son,” he said in a voice that was broken. “Ilia has gone far, but many do not know what she had to face when she was just a child. He fought not only against her rivals, but against himself. That is what hurts most as a mother.”

A struggle history beyond octagon

Known for its impressive undefeated streak in the UFC and for becoming one of the most relevant figures of the European MMA, Ilia “El Matador” TopuriaHe has captivated fans around the world. His determination, technique and trust have made him highlight, but according to his mother, what defines it is not seen in the octagon.

“From a very young age Ilya battled with episodes of anxiety, of extreme insecurity, with a sadness that we could not fully understand,” he said. “Sometimes I didn’t want to leave home, I didn’t want to train, not because I didn’t love martial arts, but because something inside it blocked it completely.”

The Topuria family, who emigrated from Georgia to Spain looking for better opportunities, lived difficult years of adaptation, as explained by his mother. Ilia, being still very young, faced both the cultural clash and the weight of emotional problems that were not always understood in their environment.

“It was not easy for him. They saw him strong on the outside, but inside many times he was broken. Even so, he tried every day. That’s why we asked them to understand. He did the best he could.”

A NETWORK SUPPORT AVALANCH

After the dissemination of their statements, fans in Spain, Georgia, Germany (country where Ilyia was born), and around the world MMA responded with a flood of messages of support and respect.

El hashtag#EntiendanailiaIt began to circulate in X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by messages such as:

“I admired him as a fighter, now he respects him as a human being. Thanks to his mother for showing us the true ilia.”
– @mmafan_iberia

“No one knows the internal battles that someone faces. What a great example of resilience. Much strength for Ilia and her family.”
— @FightTalkGlobal

Even some UFC colleagues, such as Brian OrtegayMerab stayThey shared messages of support recognizing the value of speaking publicly about mental health.

Mental health in combat sport

Mixed martial arts, such as other contact sports, tend to prioritize physical strength and emotional hardness, often leaving aside the psychological well -being of athletes. The statement of the mother of Ilyia Topuria could mark a turning point in that narrative.

Dr. Andrea Luján, High -performance sports psychologist, he said:

“The testimony of a mother as this helps to break stigmas deeply rooted in combat sport. Recognizing that a world champion may also have had moments of emotional weakness is an act of humanity, not weakness.”

More than a champion

Ilia Topuria, who has stated in previous interviews her desire to be an example for young people in both Spain and Georgia, has not yet made official statements about her mother’s words. However, people close to the fighter say that he gave his consent for her to speak publicly about her history.

“Ilia knows that her greatest struggle has not been in the cage, but in her own mind,” said an relative. “And he is proud of how far he has come, in spite of everything.”

The public, on the other hand, has begun to see with new eyes the fighter who until now was known only for his calculated aggressiveness and his winning mentality.

“Now I understand why she fights with so much passion. He is fighting for something bigger than a belt,” wrote a fan in networks.

“We just want you to understand it”

Topuria’s mother finished her message with humility and hope:

“My son is not looking for excuses. He just wants people to understand that getting here was not easy. Behind every victory there were days of tears, fear, silent effort. We feel it if he ever did not meet other people’s expectations, but he gave everything he had. And as a mother, that enough.”

History shared today by the mother of Ilia Topuria reminds us that True fighting are not always fought in front of the cameras. Sometimes, the hardest opponent is within oneself. And when it is possible to overcome it, the triumph is more valuable than any belt.