Aleksandre Topuria: from triumphant debut to major challenge in Doha on November 22, 2025
The name of Aleksandre Topuria is starting to resonate strongly in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), and especially within the UFC, the most prestigious organization in combat sports. At 29 years old, the young Georgian-Spanish fighter has shown that his surname is no coincidence, and he is now preparing for one of the most important fights of his career: the upcoming November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.
Aleksandre Topuria's beginnings in MMA
Born on January 28, 1996, in Halle (Germany) to a Georgian family, Aleksandre moved to Alicante during his childhood, where he began his training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu alongside his brother Ilia Topuria, the current UFC champion. Training at the Climent Club Academy, he developed an aggressive and technical fighting style that combines high-level grappling with explosive striking.
His professional MMA debut came in April 2015, with a submission victory in Valencia. A month later, he won again, this time at lightweight. However, a tough TKO loss to Ivo Ivanov made him re-evaluate his career, and he decided to take a break of almost six years to develop as a fighter.
His meteoric rise to the UFC
Aleksandre's return in 2021 marked the beginning of an unstoppable streak. In just two years, he accumulated several TKO and submission victories, catching the eye of UFC scouts. His signing became official in August 2024, entering directly into the bantamweight division, which features some of the most dangerous fighters in the world.
His UFC debut came on February 9, 2025, during UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. He faced undefeated local Colby Thicknesse, who replaced the injured Cody Haddon, and secured a unanimous decision victory. Throughout the three rounds, Topuria displayed an impressive combination of striking precision, ground control, and strategic dominance that positioned him as one of the organization's new prospects.
Next Fight: November 22, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 265
The UFC has confirmed that Aleksandre Topuria will return to the octagon on November 22, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, during UFC Fight Night 265. This will be a historic event, as it will mark the first time the UFC lands in Qatar.
His opponent will be Kazakh Bekzat Almakhan (professional record 12-2), an experienced fighter with an aggressive style and a high percentage of KO victories. This fight will be a true test for Topuria, who will seek to consolidate his name among the elite of the bantamweight division.
The preliminary card promises great matchups, but all eyes will be on the Georgian-Spanish fighter, who will try to reaffirm that his debut was no fluke and that he is ready to fight with the best.
A promising future in combat sports
Aleksandre Topuria represents the new generation of fighters who combine technique, power, and a winning mentality. With an explosive style, increasingly refined striking, and solid jiu-jitsu, he has all the ingredients to become one of Europe's leading figures in the UFC.
Looking ahead to the November 22 fight, Topuria has stated in several interviews that his goal is to climb the rankings quickly and get closer to a future title opportunity. If he manages to defeat Almakhan, his path to the bantamweight top 10 will be much clearer.