UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria published an official statement on Instagram, shedding light on the family circumstances that caused him to put his career on pause.
āI made the difficult decision to temporarily forego defending my title. Itās not easy, but the circumstances threaten my reputation and family. In recent months, I've been subjected to severe pressure, fabricated accusations, and extortion threats. Any accusations against me have no foundation. Justice is a matter of evidence. All necessary documents have already been submitted to the authorities, so the guilty parties will be prosecuted for falsifying evidence, as well as misappropriating funds and property.
I am speaking about this to demonstrate that no one should fall victim to manipulation or intimidation. I believe my name will be cleared thanks to the work of lawyers, and all accusations will be refuted through the judicial system,ā the statement reads.
Recall that Topuria's last fight was in June, where he knocked out Charles Oliveira.
