Former UFC Star Says Ilia Topuria’s Richard Mille Deal Is His Biggest Achievement Yet
In every sport, there are athletes who change everything. Michael Jordan did it in basketball, Michael Schumacher did it in Formula 1, and for MMA, Conor McGregor is often seen as that kind of figure. Now, with every fight and every move, Ilia Topuria is getting closer to that level. He recently shook up the fight world by announcing his Richard Mille deal, and now Darren Till has given him his flowers.
The Spaniard became the first athlete from the combat sports world to sign such a deal. The Richard Mille partnership drew the kind of reaction from Till that genuine milestones tend to produce from people who understand the sport’s business. From someone who has not always been generous with his praise, that lands with weight.
“Ilia Topuria signing with Richard Mille is the biggest thing outside of the octagon/cage I have ever seen. That’s an achievement. Fair play to the man,” Till said.
Ilia Topuria signing with Richard Mille is the biggest thing outside of the octagon/cage I have ever seen.
— DT (@darrentill2) April 1, 2026
That’s an achievement.
Fair play to the man.
Richard Mille is not a standard athlete sponsorship. The Swiss luxury watchmaker sits at the absolute pinnacle of the endorsement world. The brand has historically filled its ambassador roster with the most elite names.
Rafael Nadal and Bubba Watson sharing a brand family with a UFC champion represents a genuine crossing of worlds that has never happened before at this level. The belt validates Topuria inside the sport. The Richard Mille deal validates him in spaces that have historically excluded the sport. It’s a huge thing for someone who has grown up getting bullied and afraid.
Ilia Topuria Shares Emotional Childhood Bullying Story
‘El Matador’ said he and the people around him were bullied at school. That bullying led to constant confrontations. It also forced him to stand up for himself on many occasions. He also spoke about the emotional impact it had on him. Topuria admitted that he never liked confrontation outside the ring and often felt afraid. According to him, those experiences brought sadness and made him feel smaller until he finally found the courage to speak up.
“We were bullied at the school. There was constant confrontation… and you have to stand up for yourself a lot of the time. I was always a kid who didn’t like confrontation in the street… I felt afraid..It awakens a sadness; you start to feel less, you don’t have that courage until you speak up,” Topuria said.
Ilia Topuria opens up about the bullying he faced growing up
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) March 30, 2026
"We were bullied at the school. There was constant confrontation with the kids at the school, and you have to stand up for yourself a lot of the time. I was always a kid who didn’t like confrontation in the street, but… pic.twitter.com/pRxy7KWQZq
Indeed, looking back at it now, the UFC two-division champion has grown a lot from that experience. Today, he is one of the best fighters in the world and already ranks among the greats of the sport.
Former UFC Star Says Ilia Topuria’s Richard Mille Deal Is His Biggest Achievement Yet
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