Ilia Topuria Tattoos: Meaning Behind UFC Featherweight’s Back, Arm, Chest Inks and More

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. But one thing is certain. ‘El Matador’ sure loves to put ink on his body.

“The number… I don’t know how many I have because there are quite a few,” the featherweight champ once said in an interview. His tattoos indeed need some exploration and today, we’ll have the chance to dive in and learn what Topuria’s tattoos mean.

Does Ilia Topuria have a tattoo of himself on his chest?

The tattoo on Topuria’s chest represents a tiger split down in the middle. Needless to say, the tiger represents the Spaniard’s fighting spirit and strength inside the MMA cage. 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.

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.

Topuria burst into the UFC’s featherweight scene after joining the promotion in 2020. He made his way into title contention after amassing an undefeated 6-fight streak, with only victory coming by decision. And getting the featherweight championship title seemed like a walk in the park for the Spaniard. Did his fights motivate him to get the tattoos? Well, the featherweight fighter has yet to reveal the inspiration behind his amazing tattoos. All he had to say was, “They are things that I liked aesthetically along the way and I drew them.”

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.

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.

Ilia Topuria’s back tattoo: Did he 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.

The tattoo on the Dubliner’s back represents a crucifix that runs down his spine as a helix. What caught the fight fans’ attention was the uncanny resemblance of Topuria’s tattoo on the back to McGregor’s crucifix. The tattoo on the Spaniard’s back is also a crucifix followed by a long helix. ‘El Matador’ has a winged crucifix inked to his nape, which definitely points to his faith in Christianity. This cross is then followed by a tattoo of two snakes intertwined to form a helix and extends down to the end of his spine.

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.

But these are not the only inks that the featherweight champion has on his body. He seldom fails to flaunt the tattoos on his shoulder and sleeve, as well.

Other tattoos on Ilia Topuria’s body

The tattoo on Topuria’s arm and sleeve showcases a warrior, a wolf, and a woman. While the warrior and wolf can be interpreted as his willingness to go to war as a lone fighter, the woman could represent someone close to him. He later added a subtle text in red on his sleeve that read, “Real Hasta La Muerte.” This directly translates to “Real Until the Death.”

And how can we forget the giant clock pinned to his arm? While the real meaning behind this piece of art is a mystery, it still remains a prominent piece that garners quite a bit of attraction towards the undefeated featherweight champion.

While his tattoo craze has been uncovered, it remains to be seen how Ilia Topuria fares against Max Holloway at UFC 308. With his unfazed gaze at remaining the undefeated featherweight champion, ‘El Matador’ will surely try his best to maintain his winning streak.

What are your thoughts about the Georgian-Spanish champion’s body inks? Do you think they can intimidate Holloway in their fight? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.