Yuza Kereselidze, grandfather of Ilia and Alexander Topuria, gave an interview recalling what the brothers were like as children. He described taking custody of Ilia when he was four months old and how both boys lived with him in Rustavi, Georgia after moving from Germany. Yuza characterized young Ilia as extremely determined, recalling 20-30 kilometer bicycle rides when Ilia was only five years old, never asking to rest. He noted that Ilia was always attack-minded and would go silent when scolded, while Alexander would argue. The grandfather shared that even as a small child, Ilia loved his country and would steal car keys from visitors, begging them to take him back to Georgia. After Ilia won the championship belt, Yuza hosted a celebration at his home in Rustavi, inviting everyone who passed by to toast his grandson.
A recent interview with Yuza Kereselidze, the grandfather of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and his brother Alexander, offered a rare look into the family roots and early childhood of one of the sport's brightest stars.
Yuza recalled taking custody of Ilia when the future champion was just four months old, and later raising both boys in Rustavi, Georgia, after they relocated from Germany. The anecdotes he shared painted a portrait of a child whose drive and focus were apparent from an extraordinarily young age. He described Ilia, at only five years old, completing bicycle rides of 20 to 30 kilometers without ever once asking to stop and rest. When disciplined, the young Ilia would go quiet and internalize the moment, while his brother Alexander was more likely to answer back.
Yuza also recalled that even as a small child, Ilia displayed a fierce attachment to Georgia, reportedly stealing car keys from visitors and pleading with them to drive him back to the country. Following Ilia's championship victory, the grandfather marked the occasion by opening his Rustavi home to neighbors and passersby, inviting anyone who crossed the threshold to raise a toast to his grandson.
Ilia Topuria, now 29 and competing out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, holds a professional record of 17 wins and one loss. He currently sits second in the UFC lightweight rankings and holds the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. A compact fighter at five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, Topuria brings a high-output, attack-first game to the cage, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening with 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The interview provides rare personal context behind one of the UFC's most prominent active fighters
- Topuria's ascent from a childhood split between Germany and Georgia to pound-for-pound number one adds depth to a compelling public story
- The grandfather's recollections reinforce the relentless, forward-pressing style that has defined Topuria's professional career
