Daniel Cormier has apologized following controversy over his recent remarks about Ilia Topuria family wealth controversy, after negative reactions from the MMA community. The incident unfolded after Cormier claimed Topuria came from a wealthy background during UFC 317, prompting a storm of backlash and demands for clarification.
Cormier’s Comments Lead to Fierce Online Criticism
Daniel Cormier, who provided commentary at UFC 317 where Ilia Topuria secured a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight title, found himself at the center of a heated discussion. Following the event, speculation around Topuria’s first title defense honed in on a potential matchup with Paddy Pimblett, though Arman Tsarukyan’s name also surfaced prominently. In post-fight coverage, Cormier referenced Topuria’s background while assessing how a bout against Tsarukyan might stand out compared to other title fights.
On ESPN MMA’s ‘Good Guy / Bad Guy,’ Cormier stated that, alongside Tsarukyan, Topuria came from a financially affluent family, pointing specifically to Topuria’s impressive home gym as evidence. Cormier drew parallels between the two fighters, casting them as
“two rich dudes fighting for a UFC title”
and reinforcing the atypical nature of athletes from privileged backgrounds competing at the highest level:
“I come to find out, Ilia’s got family money. Ilia’s rich. Hey, Ilia’s got family money and then Tsarukyan, yo I saw Tsaruyan just housing thousand-dollar-a-bite of caviar. He’s just housing caviar, Arman’s rich. Could you imagine two rich dudes fighting for a UFC title? Two rich dudes that didn’t get their money in fighting would be the craziest thing because rich dudes don’t fight.”
— Daniel Cormier, UFC Commentator
The reaction online was swift and vehement. Fans circulated an old interview clip in which Topuria described holding down four jobs to make ends meet early in his MMA career. Many argued that Cormier had misunderstood, noting evidence from Topuria’s history working as a bartender and undertaking various jobs on beaches, both during his time in Germany and Spain, after leaving Georgia. Further online debate centered around Topuria’s wife, Giorgina Uzcategui Badell, with some speculating the family wealth connection might be through her.
Discontent with Cormier’s comments was echoed by numerous fans, who described his statements as misinformation and questioned his motives, with some suggesting jealousy or bias was at play. Social media responses underscored frustration over perceived inaccuracies, with one person asserting,
“It’s his wife [who is] the one with money, he was poor that’s why they moved from Georgia to Germany and then to Spain, and Ilia working four jobs is true, there’s photos from him as a bartender and working in the beach.”
Several others also voiced similar sentiments, challenging Cormier’s credibility.
Cormier Responds and Apologizes, Citing Chael Sonnen as the Source
As the backlash grew, a minority of supporters pointed out that Cormier’s comment may not have been entirely incorrect if Topuria’s family wealth was connected to his marriage. Despite these occasional defenses, Daniel Cormier acknowledged his mistake publicly, addressing the controversy head-on through his social media platforms. He clarified the source of his information, attributing the incorrect claim to a discussion with his co-host on ‘Good Guy / Bad Guy,’ Chael Sonnen.
“Damn I was wrong. I think Chael told me this and I should know better than to listen to Chael! He got me again”
— Daniel Cormier, UFC Commentator
“Damn I was wrong. I think Chael told me this and I should know better than to listen to Chael! He got me again https://t.co/6jQYt5LhbN”
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 2, 2025
In his posts, Cormier admitted fault, expressing regret for circulating misleading information. He lightheartedly shifted some blame toward Chael Sonnen, indicating reliance on a statement from his co-host had led to the error. This admission did little to immediately quell frustrations among critical fans, but demonstrated a willingness to take responsibility for the misstatement.
The Broader Impact of the Wealth Debate on UFC Title Fights
Debate over Ilia Topuria family wealth controversy has heightened scrutiny around fighters’ backgrounds and motivations for competition at the championship level. The prospect of a UFC lightweight title fight between Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan has now been discussed not just in sporting terms, but also as a rare occurrence where both men likely do not depend on fighting as their sole source of financial security. The context surrounding Topuria’s journey—having worked multiple jobs and relocated from Georgia to Germany and ultimately Spain—has become central to the narrative, undermining or at least problematizing Cormier’s initial statement regarding Topuria’s financial standing.
As the situation continues to unfold, attention remains fixed on how false narratives and social media speculation can distort public perception of athletes like Topuria. The controversy underscores the importance of accuracy and accountability in sports commentary, highlighting the potential repercussions of spreading unverified or incorrect information about fighters’ personal lives.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ilia Topuria Turkish?
A. Ilia Topuria, born on January 21, 1997, is a professional mixed martial artist from Georgia and Spain. He fights in the UFC’s Lightweight division. At the moment, he holds the UFC Lightweight Champion title.