Ilia Topuria releases statement on UFC 270 withdrawal: 'I will come back stronger than ever'

Ilia Topuria thinks he just wasn’t meant to compete at UFC 270.

The rising UFC featherweight contender was pulled from Saturday’s pay-per-view event just hours before the official weigh-ins Friday morning. MMA Junkie confirmed it was due to weight issues on Topuria’s side, leaving his fight against Charles Jourdain off the card.

In an Instagram post, Topuria confirmed the decision to stop his weight cut and cancel the fight was made by the California State Athletic Commission.

“After so many months of effort and sacrifice, destiny decided that I was not going to be on this card,” Topuria poster. “Last night, in the middle of the weight cut, the California Commission doctors were forced to cancel the fight, leaving me just five pounds shy of the official weight.

“Luckily, I’m fine now. I have left the hospital, I have rested, I have hydrated my body and, together with my team, we have analyzed the situation to draw conclusions for the future.

“I would like to thank everyone who loves and supports me for always being there in difficult times. I will come back stronger than ever.

“Lastly, I want to thank @charlesjourdain1 for taking the fight on short notice. You are a warrior.

“See you soon ”

This is the first time Topuria has experienced a weight-related issue since joining the UFC in late 2020. The 25-year-old quickly has cemented himself as one of the top prospects in the division by putting away veterans Damon Jackson and Ryan Hall with first-round knockouts in his past two trips to the octagon.