Aleksandre Topuria is set for his third UFC appearance. The older brother of former two-division champion Ilia Topuria will face Santiago Luna in the bantamweight category on November 21 at the ABHA Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
This matchup has been confirmed by multiple sources, including Heavy.com, following an initial report from Diario AS.
The Older Brother’s Journey
Thirty-year-old Aleksandre began his professional MMA career in 2015, the same night as his younger brother Ilia, in Valencia, Spain. Early on, Aleksandre fought three times within two months but paused his own career after a third loss to assist in training Ilia. In 2021, he returned to the cage with a first-round TKO victory over Lucas Ténorio. Following two more finishing wins in 2022 and 2023, discussions with the UFC took place. While Ilia held the featherweight title, Aleksandre made his UFC debut against Colby Thicknesse last year, winning by unanimous decision after three rounds. He continued his winning streak with another unanimous decision over Bekzat Almakhan later that year. Nearly a year after his last fight, Aleksandre now looks to make an impact in the bantamweight division against Santiago Luna.
A Rising Star
Santiago Luna, eight years younger than Topuria, is regarded as one of Mexico’s brightest MMA prospects. Born in San Diego but raised in Tijuana, Luna began his professional career in 2023, competing in four fights for UWC Mexico—all ending in finishes. After concluding 2024 with a submission win over Magomed Bayduev, he scored a knockout win against Desmond Manabat in San Diego. Shortly thereafter, Luna got a UFC offer on short notice, accepting a fight against Quang Le. He made an impressive UFC debut by knocking out Le in the first round, earning a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus. Luna fought twice more this year: a convincing win over Angel Pacheco and a challenging bout against Bryce Mitchell. The latter resulted in Luna’s first professional loss via arm-triangle choke in the third round. Luna now has a chance to rebound against Topuria in Qatar.
Event Details:
UFC Qatar – Al Rayyan (November 21)
- Aleksandre Topuria vs. Santiago Luna
Fan Take: This matchup is a thrilling clash between experience and youth, highlighting the global reach of MMA with talents from Georgia and Mexico. For fight fans, it promises an exciting showcase of skill, resilience, and the ever-evolving landscape of the UFC’s bantamweight division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
