Ilia Topuria has revealed he incorporates an infrared neurostimulator into his fight camp preparation, wearing it for 15-minute sessions to sharpen focus, improve sleep, and aid mental recovery. The champion says the device's effect on pre-training concentration surpasses anything he has experienced before. His physiotherapist Raul Valdesuso also drew attention for using AI tools, including ChatGPT, to source techniques that successfully relieved Topuria's shoulder problems during camp.
Ilia Topuria has offered a detailed look at the cutting-edge recovery and performance tools he is using during his current fight camp, revealing a pair of unconventional methods that go beyond traditional training approaches.
The reigning lightweight contender — ranked second in the division and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world — has been wearing an infrared neurostimulator for 15-minute sessions throughout camp. Topuria says the device sharpens his focus before training, improves his sleep, and accelerates mental recovery in ways he describes as unlike anything he has previously experienced.
Equally notable is the role of his physiotherapist, Raul Valdesuso, who has been using AI tools including ChatGPT to source rehabilitation techniques. According to Topuria, the approach has successfully resolved shoulder problems that emerged during camp.
Topuria, 29, fights out of Spain under the Climent Club banner and carries a record of 17 wins and one loss. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, the orthodox striker is one of the more prolific and efficient fighters in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the ground, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same window.
Why it matters
- Topuria's pound-for-pound ranking makes any insight into his preparation unusually significant for the division and the sport at large.
- The use of AI-assisted physiotherapy points to a broader shift in how elite camps approach injury management and recovery.
- Shoulder health is directly relevant to his grappling game, which complements a high-volume striking output that already places him among the lightweight division's most dangerous finishers.
