Topuria's pre-fight shoes from Oliveira bout revealed in HBO documentary footage

Footage from an HBO documentary capturing Ilia Topuria in the moments before his fight with Charles Oliveira has resurfaced online, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Spanish star when he was still unbeaten. The clip, which shows Topuria's pre-fight footwear, has drawn renewed attention with just days to go before UFC White House on June 14, 2026.

Topuria, known as "El Matador," enters that event ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a record of 17 wins and 1 loss. The 29-year-old from Spain stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and fights out of Climent Club. He is one of the most productive strikers in the division, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, and also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.

Charles Oliveira, nicknamed "Do Bronxs," carries a record of 37-11 and is currently ranked third at lightweight and eleventh in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 36-year-old Brazilian trains out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous submission artists in MMA history, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He also lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 54 percent accuracy, and adds 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes to his arsenal. His five-foot-ten frame and a 74-inch reach give him a notable size advantage over Topuria.

Why it matters

• The documentary footage serves as a reminder of how far Topuria has climbed since that earlier chapter of his career.
• With Topuria now at number one pound-for-pound and Oliveira sitting at number three in the division, the lightweight picture at the top remains densely contested.
• The resurfaced clip adds a layer of narrative texture heading into UFC White House, where Topuria is set to compete this weekend.