Ilia Topuria has long been known for his brutal gym sessions. Even before reaching championship status, stories circulated about him knocking down sparring partners in high-intensity sessions. UFC bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili once admitted he avoids sparring with Topuria entirely, joking that his power makes those rounds feel like real fights. “If I ever fight [Topuria] I’ll make him tired with my wrestling,” Tsarukyan said. He brings in some random sparring partners, drops them, and everyone thinks he’s so great.