Ilia Topuria's brother debuts at UFC 312 and increases the 'family' legacy in the organization; remember other cases

Aleksandre Topuria and Ilia Topuria are brothers. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Alexander Topuria e Ilia Topuria are brothers. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

The Topuria brothers are ready to take the UFC by storm. Aleksandre, the older brother of the featherweight champion (up to 65,7 kg.) Ilia Topuria, will make his debut in the organization at UFC 312, which takes place this Saturday (8). The Georgian faces Colby Thicknesse, a pupil of Alexander Volkanovsky, in the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg). Expectations are high, as the debut marks another chapter in the 'family in the Ultimate' saga.

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MMA has always been a stage that has had its space taken by fighting brothers. Since the beginnings of the sport, when legends Ken and Frank shamrock began to make history, and to this day, the impact of family members on the UFC is remarkable. Of course, the focus of the moment is on Alexander Topuria, but the story of other brothers who shone in the organization cannot be ignored.

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The Journey of the Topuria Brothers

Ilia Topuria, 26 years old, is one of the most feared and respected champions of today. Born in Georgia, the athlete has an impressive record, with 14 wins and no losses, and is the current holder of the featherweight belt. He has even beaten legends of the division, such as Alexander Volkanovsky e Max Holloway, and even flirts with a move up to lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) to seek the double championship.

And Ilia's trajectory is linked to Aleksandre, beyond the family relationship. The older brother gave up part of his career, even before joining the UFC, to help his brother's success.

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His aggressive and versatile style inside the octagon has placed him among the best, and his brother, Aleksandre, promises to follow a similar path. At 29 years old, Aleksandre has been successful in smaller MMA competitions and will now make the jump to the UFC. His record in martial arts, in other scenarios, is five wins and one loss.

Other UFC Big Brothers

In addition to the Topuria brothers, the UFC has a long list of brothers who have earned their places within the largest MMA organization in the world. The Diaz brothers, Nate and Nick, for example, are iconic names who have given fight fans great moments. Nate stood out with victories over big names, such as Conor McGregor, while Nick, with his irreverent style, took the Strikeforce belt and fought for titles in the UFC.

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In Brazil, the Nogueiras, Minotauro and Minotouro, are true legends. Both took the country to the top, with Minotauro winning the interim heavyweight title (up to 120,2 kg) and Minotouro being one of the most emblematic light heavyweights (up to 93 kg) in history.

And the legacy didn't stop there: Gilbert and Herbert Burns continue to show that talent runs in the family, with 'Durinho' being one of the top names in the welterweight division (up to 77kg). 'Blaze', however, did not have the same success. He competed from 2020 to 2024 and had six fights, with two positive results and four negative ones.

The Pettis brothers, Anthony and Sergio, are also on the list of those who competed in the UFC. Known for the legendary 'Showtime Kick', Anthony was the lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg), while his brother, Sergio, fluctuated in the organization, but built a solid career in the flyweight division of Bellator.

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In addition to them, the Shevchenko sisters, Valentina and Antonina, made history as the first female duo to compete in the UFC, with Valentina winning the flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg). Antonina, although less recognized, also had expressive moments.

The list is extensive, and other names like Usman, Kamaru and Mohammed, Jake and Joe Ellenberger, and even the Figueiredo duo (Deiveson and Francisco) also contribute to the brothers' legacy in the UFC. Each of these duos has their own particularities and life stories that intersect with that of the brother who also made history in the octagon.