Ilia Topuria trains with Real Madrid legend amid ongoing legal dispute outside of UFC

Ilia Topuria has been spotted training with Sergio Ramos as he navigates a complex issue outside of the UFC.

The UFC lightweight champion announced in November that he would be stepping away from the fight game to resolve a ‘difficult moment’ in his life.

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‘El Matador’ later claimed he was facing ‘false allegations of domestic abuse’ and received surprise messages of support from the likes of bitter rival Paddy Pimblett.

He then released a statement earlier this month, denying he had been summoned to testify in a domestic violence case, instead attending court for an issue related to his daughter’s travel outside of Spain.

A few days later, reports suggested that Topuria had won a court ruling against his ex-wife, Giorgina Uzacategui, after she allegedly requested to travel from Spain to Miami with their daughter.

It seems that at this stage, the UFC champion is taking each day as it comes, as he surrounds himself with friends and loved ones.

Ilia Topuria links up with Sergio Ramos again

On Monday, former Real Madrid defender and Spain international Ramos uploaded a video of himself training alongside Topuria.

Ramos is widely viewed as one of the greatest defenders of all time, spending the majority of his career in Madrid, captaining the team that Topuria supports.

“Let’s see who’s got the guts here. Let’s get down to business,” Ramos says at the start of the training video when translated from Spanish.

He does some light sparring with the champion, working the punching bags while practising his left hand – the same strike Topuria used to knock out Charles Oliveira and win the lightweight title in his last bout.

Ramos then states it’s a ‘privilege’ that a world champion like himself can link up with a two-time world champion like Topuria.

The 39-year-old won the FIFA World Cup, which begins again on June 11, with Spain in South Africa 16 years ago.

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The pair have been spotted together numerous times at UFC events, including when Ramos accompanied Topuria to the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Topuria had already been crowned a UFC champion at featherweight before he knocked out Oliveira.

He went on to defend the featherweight belt by handing Max Holloway the first knockout defeat of his career.

‘El Matador’ had won the title at 145lbs by stopping Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, after going 6-0 at the start of his spell in Dana White‘s promotion.

He is now the reigning champion at 155lbs and will have a close eye on the UFC’s first card of 2026 later this month.

Pimblett meets Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324 on January 24, with the winner likely to meet Topuria next to fight for the undisputed lightweight crown.