Topuria’s Strength Coach Reveals 6-8 Week Recovery Timeline for Orbital Fractures

“Day by day, he already looks like a completely different person. Honestly, it doesn’t even look like he was in a fight. All the swelling in his face has gone down, and all the bruising he had is gone.” That’s Jesús Gallo, Ilia Topuria’s strength and conditioning coach, describing the Spanish-Georgian fighter’s rapid recovery following his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.

The June 14, 2026 event at the White House marked a turning point for Topuria—though not the one he wanted. His unbeaten record ended, but the physical toll was limited. Medical imaging showed non-displaced orbital fractures in both eyes, injuries that sound alarming on paper but turned out to be manageable: no surgery needed.

Recovery is measured in weeks, not months. Gallo put the timeline at six to eight weeks for the orbital fractures to heal. That window could mean a sooner-than-expected return to the octagon after such a significant defeat.

On the possibility of a rematch, Gallo offered a hint about timing: “If they gave us the rematch, it would probably be toward the end of the year, in December. Who knows? We’ll see.” A December 2026 comeback would fit the medical recovery window perfectly, giving Topuria space to regroup following his first professional loss.