Ilia Topuria “back to the office” sharpening his reflexes amid Paddy Pimblett fight talks

Ilia Topuria is back in training as the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion continues preparing for his return to the Octagon. The Spaniard has been away from competition since suffering a stunning fourth-round loss to Justin Gaethje in June.Topuria shared fresh footage and images from his latest training session. In another post, the 29-year-old was seen working on his reflexes with a reaction game as he looks to rebuild his form. His return comes as questions continue over his next opponent, with Paddy Pimblett emerging as a possible matchup.Ilia Topuria steps up training ahead of UFC returnIlia Topuria has officially returned to the gym after his damaging defeat to Gaethje at the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June 2026.The former champion shared a glimpse of his latest session on social media. He was seen back on the mats and working on his boxing skills. In another post he also appeared to be sharpening his reflexes through a reaction-based training game.“Back to the office,” Topuria captioned a series of images on his Instagram.The session marks an important step in Topuria’s comeback plans. His manager previously claimed that the 29-year-old could return to the UFC in February.Topuria suffered significant injuries during his fight with Gaethje. The defeat was one of the biggest setbacks of his career. He claimed that Gaethje had cheated by using something in or on his gloves. Topuria said the incident contributed to him suffering two broken orbital bones and a broken nose.Despite the loss, Topuria appears focused on moving forward.His immediate path back to the lightweight title remains unclear. Gaethje has indicated that he plans to face Arman Tsarukyan next if he chooses to continue fighting. That appears to have ruled out an immediate rematch between Topuria and Gaethje.Topuria could instead face Paddy Pimblett.The British lightweight has repeatedly called for a fight against the former champion. Pimblett is also one of the biggest names in the division and has built significant momentum inside the UFC.The potential matchup would give Topuria a major test during his comeback. It would also allow him to remain at lightweight while working his way back toward title contention.Topuria previously ruled the featherweight division. He captured the 145-pound championship by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. He made one successful title defense before moving to lightweight.Gaethje has recently suggested that Topuria could consider returning to featherweight. However, Topuria’s latest training activity indicates that his comeback preparations are already underway.Pimblett has also previously faced questions over his size at lightweight. He was reported to have weighed 190lbs when he fought Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329.For now, Topuria’s focus appears to be on training. His latest reaction drills show that he has already started sharpening his speed and reflexes ahead of his anticipated UFC return.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.