Not many people know but ‘El Matador’ is an avid fan of tattoos. Ilia Topuria has some noticeable ones on his chest and sleeve, which many fans argue are some of the best tattoos that any UFC fighter on the roster has. The tattoos often signify their family members, loved ones, inspirations, and even the struggle to become a professional fighter.

Ahead of his maiden UFC title bout, we look to uncover the meaning behind them. The tattoo on Topuria’s chest represents a tiger split down in the middle. There’s also a dark figure inside the split, which appears to be Topuria himself. The tattoo on his chest also reveals the two sides that he has, one being rigid and the other being always ready to fight.

Furthermore, Ilia Topuria’s tattoo also has a giant art of the letter ‘T’, with a crown and some wings. This tattoo seems to represent his last name. The tattoo captures the eye, especially because of the red and black colors. Meanwhile, the ‘T’ with a crown represents his goal to become the best fighter in the world.

The tattoo on Topuria’s arm and sleeve showcases a warrior, a wolf, and a woman. While the warrior and wolf can interpreted as his willingness to go to war as a lone fighter, the woman could represent someone close to him.

Ilia Topuria burst into the UFC’s featherweight scene after joining the promotion in 2020. Furthermore, he made his way into title contention after amassing a 6-fight undefeated streak, with only victory coming by decision. The fighter has not revealed the inspiration behind his amazing tattoos till now.

However, it’s safe to say that his Georgian heritage must have played a vital role in his culture’s symbols and designs representing bravery and strength. Each design possibly showcases significant moments or lessons he has learned along the way. They genuinely hold personal meaning and reflect his unique journey as a martial artist.

Watch This Story: Shayna Baszler MMA Credentials. Wrestling, Kickboxing, and All We Know About WWE and Ex-UFC Star’s Fighting Style

Meanwhile, there have been many instances when some people have claimed that the Georgian-Spanish fighter may have copied Conor McGregor‘s chest tattoo. Let’s take a look at that front.

Did ‘El Matador’ copy Conor McGregor?

McGregor doesn’t have a huge amount of tattoos, the few he does have are easily identified as his. McGregor’s best and most prominent tattoos are the crowned gorilla eating a heart on his chest, and the tiger on his stomach.

There is no doubt that Ilia Topuria’s tattoos are distinctively unique. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped fans from making comparisons of his chest tattoo to that of Conor McGregor’s. The Irishman sports an iconic tattoo that is now synonymous with him given how big of a star he is in all of combat sports.

Some UFC fans believe that Ilia Topuria could be a fan of Conor McGregor. He hasn’t spoken about claims of copying tattoos yet. However, fans cannot disagree that Ilia Topuria has a great eye for art and his tattoo collection is a testament to that. Also, after witnessing how vibrant the tattoos are, there is no doubt that he only lets a talented artist do the work on his body.

While his tattoo craze has been uncovered, it remains to be seen how Ilia Topuria fares against Alexander Volkanovski. The champion has been on a roll and hardly anybody has bet against him in the featherweight division. Meanwhile, Topuria has his sights set on the 145-pound strap, as he looks to become a champion while extending his overall undefeated record to 15 wins.

Read More: Dana White’s Favorite Architectural Wonderland Chosen by Sean O’Malley as He Eyes Up Ilia Topuria Fight – “I’m Gonna Take Him Out”