UFC’s Merab Dvalishvili has shed some light on how Ilia Topuria was faring during his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 250.
According to him, Topuria was fighting blind on his way to the first major loss of his career.
“My brother Ilia, unfortunately, he lost but he showed a great figh. Fight was really tough. Unfortunately, Ilia was fighting blind since the first round. I think one moment Justin Gaethje threw a punch like this [with his thumb extended], I think he eye poked him,” Dvalishvili told Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.
Dvalishvili said Topuria never fully recovered from that.
“Yes, when you got eye poked or you broke this [orbital] bone, you are blind pretty much. That affects the fight. That was the main thing. Ilia was fighting blind. That’s what Ilia said,” explained Dvalishvili claiming Topuria was blind in both eyes near the end of the fight.
“If Ilia continued [throwing] hammerfists or throwing punches he would finish him but Ilia chased the submission and then Justin Gaethje somehow survived. It was a tough fight but I’m proud of my brother Ilia. He showed a great, great fight,” said Dvalishvili promising that Topuria will come back better than ever.
Word is that Topuria suffered fractures to both orbital bones and a broken or fractured nasal/septum during the fight.
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