Plinio Cruz, head coach of Alex Pereira, has stated that Ilia Topuria weighed 90 kilograms when he visited their gym to train with Pereira approximately one month ago.
Plinio Cruz, the head coach of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, has revealed that Ilia Topuria tipped the scales at 90 kilograms during a visit to their gym roughly one month ago, raising fresh questions about where "El Matador" is headed on the weight scale.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, carries a 17-1-0 record into whatever lies ahead. The 29-year-old from Spain stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and fights out of Climent Club. He averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also mixing in nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at any weight class.
Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, brings a 13-4-0 record and the kind of physical profile that dominates that division. The Brazilian stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and is among the most efficient strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 62 percent accuracy. The 38-year-old operates out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and has minimal reliance on the grappling game, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Topuria walking at 90 kg — nearly 198 pounds — suggests a potential move to light heavyweight, where Pereira currently reigns.
- Topuria is already ranked second at lightweight, so any division jump would immediately shake up two weight classes.
- A size and reach gap exists between the two fighters — Pereira holds a seven-inch height advantage and a ten-inch reach advantage — making the physical contrast a central talking point if a fight were pursued.
- Cruz's public disclosure of Topuria's weight adds an official voice to what has otherwise been speculation about the Georgian-Spanish star's divisional future.
