The recovery from two broken orbital bones and a broken nose sustained against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 appeared to be a long road. Ten days in, Topuria’s trainer Jesús Gallo is delivering a remarkably positive update, and the door for a return before 2026 ends is not completely closed.
What Ilia Topuria’s Trainer Is Seeing Day to Day
Gallo’s assessment is striking given the severity of the damage ‘El Matador’ absorbed at the White House on June 14. Gallo said to Serebro en Los Deportes:
“Every recovery is different, but physically, from what I’ve seen day to day, he already looks like a completely different person. Obviously, he still feels some discomfort and things like that, but it honestly looks like he wasn’t even in a fight.”
He went further when describing Ilia Topuria’s current physical state:
“All the swelling in his face is gone, and every kind of bruise he had has gone down. Obviously, he still has some discomfort and sensitivity around his face, but at first glance, he looks like someone who’s already well recovered, and it hasn’t even been a week. Well, a week and two days.”
Doctors have confirmed that there was no displacement fracture in either the broken orbital or the nose. Both injuries are expected to heal within six to eight weeks. Once cleared, the 29-year-old former UFC two-division champion can begin grappling before gradually working his way into a full training camp.
The optimism from camp is encouraging, but the medical suspension is a concrete obstacle. Topuria was handed a 180-day suspension following UFC Freedom 250, meaning competition before December is off the table regardless of how fast his face heals, unless he is, of course, cleared by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. (Courtesy of MMA Fighting)
Topuria himself has already publicly demanded a rematch with Justin Gaethje. However, ‘The Highlight’ does not intend to run it back right away as he believes he made ‘El Matador’ “quit twice” on June 14.
Also read: Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria Hit With Brutal 180 Day Medical Suspensions After UFC Freedom 250
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