Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, both current double champions in UFC, shared a respectful handshake during UFC 328 promotional activities. The moment was captured on video and shared by Viktor Shesterkin. The interaction highlights the mutual respect between two fighters who have achieved rare double-championship status in the organization. Specific context around the handshake or what prompted it is limited in the post.
Two of the UFC's most decorated active fighters, Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, came face to face at the UFC 328 pre-event press conference on May 8, exchanging a handshake that drew attention across social media after footage was shared by Viktor Shesterkin.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 record and currently holds double-champion status while competing at lightweight, where he is ranked second in the division. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he is a well-rounded threat, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, nicknamed "Poatan," holds a 13-4-0 record and is the reigning light heavyweight champion, adding another belt to his collection to earn his own double-champion distinction. The Brazilian is 38 years old and represents Teixeira MMA and Fitness. At six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, he is an imposing physical presence and one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 62 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Both men currently hold double-champion status, making them the two most prominent title holders on the UFC roster at this moment
- The pound-for-pound picture is directly relevant, with Topuria sitting at number one and Pereira a natural figure in that conversation given his championship haul
- Their contrasting physical profiles — a compact, high-volume wrestler-striker against a towering knockout artist — make any shared spotlight a natural talking point for fans
Saturday, May 9, 2026
