{"id":5586,"date":"2025-12-16T11:36:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=5586"},"modified":"2025-12-16T11:36:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:36:47","slug":"topuria-says-false-allegations-of-domestic-abuse-behind-ufc-324-absence-mixed-martial-arts-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=5586","title":{"rendered":"Topuria says \u2018false allegations of domestic abuse\u2019 behind UFC 324 absence | Mixed Martial Arts News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>UFC title holder IIia Topuria took a break from the sport in November to fight what he is calling \u2018attempted extortion\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 16 Dec 2025<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">16 Dec 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share2 icon--primary icon--16 \" viewbox=\"0 0 20 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share2<\/title><path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.688 9.048c-.659 0-1.252.282-1.673.733l-4.92-2.45c.016-.115.028-.232.028-.352 0-.117-.011-.23-.027-.343l4.913-2.423a2.285 2.285 0 0 0 1.68.739C12.964 4.952 14 3.899 14 2.6 14 1.302 12.965.25 11.688.25S9.377 1.302 9.377 2.601c0 .117.01.23.027.343L4.49 5.367a2.285 2.285 0 0 0-1.68-.739C1.536 4.628.5 5.681.5 6.979c0 1.299 1.035 2.35 2.312 2.35.659 0 1.252-.281 1.673-.731l4.92 2.45a2.357 2.357 0 0 0-.029.351c0 1.299 1.035 2.351 2.312 2.351S14 12.698 14 11.399s-1.035-2.35-2.312-2.35Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has explained his withdrawal from the UFC 324 title bout, alleging he is addressing an extortion attempt and will return to the cage at the appropriate time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver the past several weeks, I have made the difficult decision to temporarily step away from defending my title. This was not a decision I took lightly. However, when circumstances arise that threaten your personal integrity, your family, and your reputation, there comes a point when you must address them directly,\u201d Topuria said in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Topuria (17-0) is not on the UFC 324 card. An interim lightweight championship bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett headlines the January 24 event in Paradise, Nevada.<\/p>\n<p>The 28-year-old Georgian had already denied that an injury forced him out of a title defence. On Monday, Topuria said he wanted to address rumours and speculation about his absence from the sport since November.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn recent months, I have been subjected to severe and unacceptable pressure, including threats to disseminate false allegations of domestic abuse unless financial demands were met. These allegations are entirely unfounded. The truth is not a matter of opinion \u2013 it is a matter of evidence. All relevant evidence has been carefully preserved and documented, including audio recordings, written communications, witness statements, and video material. This evidence has been submitted to the appropriate judicial authorities in order to pursue legal action for attempted extortion, falsification of evidence, misappropriation of funds and personal property, and multiple threats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Topuria has two knockout wins to defend the belt since he won it from Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024 with a knockout victory.<\/p>\n<p>His most recent fight was a June 28 knockout victory against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, which made him the first undefeated two-division champion in UFC history.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3805828\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3805828\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3805828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-02-18T062804Z_395164195_MT1USATODAY22553530_RTRMADP_3_MMA-UFC-298-VOLKANOVSKI-VS-TOPURIA-1751161866.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Ilia Topuria against Charles Oliveira headline UFC 317\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3805828\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Topuria has won UFC titles in two weight classes \u2013 flyweight and lightweight \u2013 and has been ranked as the number one pound-for-pound UFC fighter in the world [File: Gary A Vasquez\/USA TODAY Sports\u00a0via Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UFC title holder IIia Topuria took a break from the sport in November to fight what he is calling \u2018attempted extortion\u2019. Published On 16 Dec 202516 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has explained his withdrawal from the UFC 324 title bout, alleging he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-canada-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}