Yuza Kereselidze, grandfather of Ilia and Alexander Topuria, shared childhood stories about his grandsons in an interview with Kviris Palitra. He recalled how Ilia, even at age five, would ride 20-30 kilometers on a small bicycle without complaint and showed early ambition, saying he could pilot a helicopter if given the chance. Alexander (Sandro) never tasted sweets growing up and would jump over fences to steal lemonade for other children who couldn't climb. When living in Germany, young Ilia would steal car keys from visitors and beg to be taken back to Georgia, showing deep love for his homeland. After Ilia won the championship belt, Kereselidze hosted a celebration in Rustavi, inviting everyone passing by to toast his grandson.
Ilia Topuria's grandfather, Yuza Kereselidze, has offered a rare and personal look at the early years of the reigning pound-for-pound number one fighter, sharing childhood stories about Ilia and his brother Alexander in an interview with Georgian outlet Kviris Palitra.
Topuria, now 29 years old and ranked second in the UFC lightweight division, carries a professional record of 17 wins and one loss. Fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, the orthodox striker has built a reputation as one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also mixing in nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes of action.
Kereselidze's recollections paint a picture of a relentlessly driven child long before the lights of the octagon. He recalled a five-year-old Ilia pedaling 20 to 30 kilometers on a small bicycle without a word of complaint, and displaying the kind of fearless confidence that would later define his fighting career, telling his grandfather he could pilot a helicopter if given the opportunity. During a period when the family lived in Germany, young Ilia would reportedly take car keys from visitors and plead to be driven back to Georgia, a detail Kereselidze shared as evidence of his grandson's deep attachment to his homeland.
Brother Alexander, known as Sandro, drew his own fond portrait. According to Kereselidze, Alexander never touched sweets as a child and would scale fences to steal lemonade, not for himself, but to bring it back to other children who could not make the climb.
Why it matters
- The interview humanizes one of MMA's biggest current stars ahead of his continued rise through the lightweight division
- Kereselidze's account underscores the family and cultural roots that have been central to Topuria's public identity
- Following Ilia's championship win, the grandfather hosted an open celebration in Rustavi, inviting passersby to raise a toast, a moment that reflects the broader significance of Topuria's success within Georgia
