Ilia Topuria is special. Barely four years into his UFC stint, the Spanish-Georgian juggernaut is already on his path to MMA immortality. After all, he has knocked out the two greatest 145-pounders- Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski- this year alone, and at 27, is just getting started. Not to mention the numerous legends and stories surrounding him, which have made him a larger-than-life figure.

However, at least one of these legends is possibly not true, at least that is what UFC lightweight star and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former opponent, Michael Johnson, has claimed in a recent interview. “I got someone on here, it says you’ve you’ve seen Topuria… KO three people in training. Have you seen him work over there [at the Kill Cliff gym]?” BKFC star ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry asked Johnson on his podcast.

Topuria, of course, holds frightening power in his hands. ‘El Matador’ made that clear when he bulldozered through Max Holloway who had never been stopped in his entire career in their UFC 308 clash. This is why it is pretty believable that the Spanish-Georgian champ knocked out three training partners. But Johnson poured cold water on this story, claiming that this was akin to a high school rumor.

“Yeah, he was over here. I just came back from surgery so I couldn’t really train with him. He didn’t knock out three people, I don’t know where that story comes from bro. I swear bro, like the whole like MMA sport is just like one big-ass high school… So many stories, but he dropped a lighter guy in our gym but, you know, yeah I’ve seen him beating up on a few people. But as far as knocking out three people, no. But he’s talented bro, he’s one of the best in the world,” Johnson clarified. On the other hand, one of Johnson’s illustrious teammates has a contradictory claim about this incident.

Gilbert Burns reveals the truth behind Topuria knocking out three training partners

Ilia Topuria knocking out the nigh unstoppable Alexander Volkanovski to become the new champ was a shock for many. After all, ‘Volk’ had never even lost a decision, let alone been knocked out in the UFC’s 145-pound division previously. But you know who didn’t find ‘El Matador’ stopping Volkanovski surprising?

UFC welterweight veteran and Kill Cliff gym member Gilbert Burns. And why exactly was ‘Durinho’ not surprised? Well, because he had seen Topuria knock out three people in training with his own eyes!

“This guy [Topuria] came here to the gym and did half of his camp [for his 2023 fight] against Josh Emmett here and he knocked out three of my teammates- out, not down, out! With the big gloves! I’m going to say that one more time, with the big gloves- out!” Burns exclaimed in an interview with MMA journalist Luke Thomas earlier this year.

Burns isn’t one to exaggerate or lie. The fact that he claimed to have witnessed Topuria drop three training partners should be confirmation enough that it happened. But what about Johnson rubbishing this incident? Well, what we can say based on the lightweight’s comments is that he didn’t personally see it happen. But that, of course, doesn’t mean it never happened. What do you think about Michael Johnson’s comments about Topuria’s mythical gym story?