TLDR
- Ilia Topuria suffered broken orbital bones in both eyes during his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC White House on June 14, 2026
- Topuria’s trainer Jesus Gallo says all swelling and bruising has gone down just over a week after the fight
- Doctors expect the orbital bones to heal within six to eight weeks without requiring surgery
- Topuria will need at least two to three months total before returning to competition
- The fighter could make his UFC return as early as December 2026, according to his training team
Sources: givemesport.com | mmamania.com
Ilia Topuria is recovering faster than expected from the injuries he suffered at UFC White House, according to his physical trainer Jesus Gallo. The former UFC champion could return to the Octagon as early as December 2026.
Topuria lost his undefeated record on June 14, 2026, when Justin Gaethje defeated him in a brutal four-round fight on the South Lawn of the White House. The doctor stopped the fight between the fourth and fifth rounds after both of Topuria’s eyes had swollen shut.
Medical reports leaked to Spanish media confirmed that Topuria suffered broken orbital bones in both eyes. The injuries raised questions about how long the fighter would need to recover and when he could return to competition.
Trainer Reports Rapid Healing Progress
Gallo provided an update on Topuria’s condition in an interview with SerEbro EnlosDeportes. “Day by day, he already looks like a completely different person,” Gallo said.
“He looks like he wasn’t even in a fight, honestly,” the trainer added. “All the swelling in his face has gone down, every type of bruising he had.”
🚨 After his fight with Justin Gaethje at #UFCWhiteHouse, Ilia Topuria reportedly suffered fractures to both orbital bones and his nose. This injury will need time to heal.
Wishing him a speedy recovery. 🙏🥊 pic.twitter.com/8bmbd6m3bM
— Razed MMA (@RazedFighting) June 18, 2026
The update came just over a week after the fight. Gallo said Topuria still feels some discomfort but has recovered much faster than initially expected.
Doctors told Topuria’s team that the orbital bones should heal properly within six to eight weeks. The injuries did not involve any bone displacement, which means they will heal on their own without surgery.
Timeline for Return to Training and Competition
Gallo explained that Topuria will need additional time after the bones heal before he can resume full training. “After that, for him to start wrestling again, to start doing things again, it’ll take a little while for it to really solidify there,” he said.
The trainer estimated that Topuria will need at least two to three months before he can return to competition. “If you saw us in a rematch or in a fight, it would be toward the end of the year, December,” Gallo said.
Topuria had been undefeated before the loss to Gaethje. He previously defeated Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira by knockout or submission.
The UFC White House fight marked Topuria’s first bout at lightweight after holding the featherweight championship. Gaethje captured the UFC Lightweight Championship with the victory.
Topuria has already called for a rematch with Gaethje. However, the UFC has not announced whether they will grant the immediate rematch or have Gaethje face other contenders first.
Arman Tsarukyan has been ranked as the number one contender at lightweight since before the UFC White House event. Tsarukyan last fought in November 2025, when he defeated Dan Hooker.
Another potential opponent for Topuria could be Paddy Pimblett if the Liverpool fighter defeats Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. A win for Pimblett could move him into the top five rankings at lightweight.
Gallo’s comments suggest that Topuria will not rush his return to the Octagon. The fighter’s team plans to wait until the orbital bones fully heal and solidify before resuming contact training.
Paddy Pimblett: Ilia Topuria Will Never Recover From Brutal Justin Gaethje Loss
