Short answer? Ilia Topuria now bases his fight camps in Madrid. In 2025 he and his brother parted ways with Climent Club to set up their own training base in the capital. But plenty of sites still say he fights out of Alicante, so let’s sort out why.
| L | Justin Gaethje TitleKO/TKO · toCorner Stoppage · R4 5:00 | UFC Freedom 250Jun 14, 2026 |
| W | Charles Oliveira TitleKO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R1 2:27 | UFC 317: Topuria vs. OliveiraJun 28, 2025 |
| W | Max Holloway TitleKO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R3 1:34 | UFC 308: Topuria vs. HollowayOct 26, 2024 |
| W | Alexander Volkanovski TitleKO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 3:32 | UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. TopuriaFeb 17, 2024 |
| W | Josh EmmettDecision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. TopuriaJun 24, 2023 |
So where did Ilia Topuria actually grow up?
It’s a bit of a journey, and it’s why fans argue about whether he’s Georgian or Spanish. He was born on January 21, 1997, in Halle, Germany, to Georgian parents. At age seven, the family moved to Georgia. That’s where he first stepped onto the wrestling mats and learned Greco-Roman style.
Then came Spain. After the Russo-Georgian War, when he was 15, the family relocated to Alicante. One note: a few outlets give a later year for the move, but most sources, including Wikipedia, place it in 2012.
And Spain stuck. Topuria has said he found his profession and his passion there, and that he has “my house, my friends, everything is in Spain.” If you’ve ever wondered why he sounds so Spanish in interviews, that’s why.
What was Climent Club, and why does it still come up?
If you’ve seen his early fights, you’ve seen this gym’s name. Climent Club was opened in 2008 by Argentine brothers Agustin and Jorge Climent, both Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts. It sits on Calle Burgos in central Alicante.
Topuria stuck around for a long time. He trained there for more than a decade. In 2018, he and his brother Aleksandre were both promoted to BJJ black belt.
So the gym is a huge part of his story. Some pages haven’t caught up with the change, though. Tapology and a few older profiles still say he fights out of Alicante. One sports site’s team section even still lists him with Climent Club. That’s out of date.
So why did he leave Alicante?
Honestly, the reports point to logistics more than drama. MMA journalist Giorgi Kokiashvili reported that Ilia and Aleksandre had officially parted ways with Climent Club after 13 years. The split was described as mutual and respectful. No bad blood was reported.
Distance seems to have been the sticking point. Reportedly, after Topuria moved to Madrid, training got complicated. Before the Max Holloway fight, the Climents were making regular four-hour drives to the capital. That’s a lot of road time in the middle of a camp, isn’t it?
The timing was the surprising part. It came just weeks before his UFC 317 title fight with Charles Oliveira. He won that fight, so the new setup clearly didn’t slow him down.
Where does he train now?
Madrid. He set up his own gym and training base in the capital. Wikipedia lists his team as “Topuria Team” from 2025 onward.
Here’s what we can’t tell you. We didn’t find a publicly confirmed gym name, street or full coaching staff for the Madrid base. We won’t guess, and you shouldn’t trust any site that gives you an exact address.
What is confirmed is a short list:
- Javi Climent, the brothers’ boxing coach, stayed in their corner. He was never officially tied to Climent Club.
- Aleksandre Topuria has been described as Ilia’s older brother and head coach.
So the core of the team is still family, plus a longtime boxing coach.
What about that fancy home gym?
You might remember the clips. Before UFC 308, he showed off a home facility that appeared to include a hyperbaric chamber. That report didn’t say which city the gym was in, and it came before the Climent split. We’d treat it as a recovery setup, not a replacement for his team.
Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Born | Halle, Germany |
| Early training | Greco-Roman wrestling in Georgia |
| Long-time gym | Climent Club, Alicante (more than a decade) |
| Current camp base | Madrid |
| Team | Topuria Team (2025–present) |
What fans usually get wrong
First, “he’s from Alicante.” He grew up there as a teenager, but he wasn’t born there, and he doesn’t train there anymore.
Second, “he’s Spanish-born.” He isn’t. Spain’s Council of Ministers granted him citizenship in 2024. He now holds both Georgian and Spanish nationalities.
Third, “he’s still with the Climents.” Not for camps, as far as the reports go. That’s the one that trips up the most people, because older articles are still everywhere.
What’s he working on now?
This is probably why you’re reading. He’s returned to training since losing the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje on June 14. He said he’d received medical clearance to resume full training. No opponent or return date has been announced.
We keep a running page on that, so check When Is Ilia Topuria’s Next UFC Fight? Latest Updates if you want the newest word. And if you like this kind of fighter-home-base story, you might enjoy our look at where Khabib Nurmagomedov lives and trains.
So that’s the picture, as best we can tell. He was born in Germany, raised in Georgia, and built in Alicante. Now he’s running his own show from Madrid. We’ll update this when a new camp, gym or coach is confirmed, so check back before his next fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Ilia Topuria live?
He’s been reported to live in Madrid, and he has said Spain is home. One report said the Topuria brothers now reside in Madrid. We don’t share more specific location details.
Does Ilia Topuria still train at Climent Club?
No. He and his brother left in 2025 to set up their own base in Madrid.
Who coaches Ilia Topuria?
Javi Climent is his boxing coach, and Aleksandre Topuria is described as his head coach. We couldn’t confirm a full coaching staff for the Madrid camp.
Is Ilia Topuria Georgian or Spanish?
Both. He was born in Germany to Georgian parents and holds both Georgian and Spanish nationalities.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ilia Topuria
- Wikipedia: Aleksandre Topuria
- Athlon Sports: Topuria parts ways with Climent Club
- EssentiallySports: Why did Topuria leave his old gym?
- Opro: Who Is Ilia Topuria?
- The Art of 8: Climent Club Alicante
- EssentiallySports: Topuria’s nationality and background
- beIN SPORTS: Georgia or Spain?
- FirstSportz: Topuria’s high-tech home gym
- FightSports: Topuria begins training for next fight
- BetMGM blog: When is Topuria’s next fight? (cited only as an example of an outdated team listing)
Last updated: October 2026
