In the competitive world of Mixed Martial Arts, Ilia Topuria has managed to conquer the 145-pound category, and his relentless rise has not only been due to his skills inside the octagon but also thanks to a high-level team, which prominently includes the Cuban Jesús Gallo.
It was Topuria himself (16-0-0), considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, who introduced Gallo on his YouTube channel in an episode titled "Becoming a LEGEND: My Week Before the FIGHT Against MAX HOLLOWAY."
In the audiovisual piece, “El Matador” made it clear the respect he holds for Gallo: “I am fortunate to have the master,” he said, before stating that the trainer does not like cameras or the spotlight, and they had to persuade him to partake in the recording.
"It gives us the complete design for physical preparation; it depends on him being at 100 percent," added the undefeated fighter days before his phenomenal knockout victory over Holloway (26-8-0) at UFC 308, held on Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Residing in Florida, United States, Gallo had a distinguished career as a judoka, achieving significant results between 1999 and 2004, but the major breakthrough came in his role as a coach.
The momentum has been so significant that he has collaborated with numerous stars, from other UFC figures like Jorge Masvidal to players from the NBA and Major League Baseball, including Miguel Antonio Vargas, the son of the legendary baseball player Lázaro Vargas.
Through hard work and impressive results, their gym, Elite Athletes Performance - located in Miami - gained fame, and their figure emerged as a leader in the art of achieving optimal physical conditioning for athletes, which is essential in contemporary sports.
A brief look at their page on the social media platform Instagram reveals other details: they have over 20 years of experience training professional athletes, obtained a degree in Exercise Physiology, and have a specialization in Sports Medicine.
Gallo joined Topuria's team after his debut in the UFC, when the fighter was looking to optimize his physical fitness and conditioning. “I was contacted to work on his conditioning because he had issues with weight cutting, and the training wasn’t suited to his style and physique,” he commented in an interview with El Nuevo Herald.
Since then, the partnership between the two has been essential in Topuria's evolution, who has seen a remarkable increase in muscle and endurance that allows him to maintain a high pace in the octagon.
In fact, since that dialogue in February 2024, the Cuban predicted the possible outcome of a fight between Topuria and Holloway. “Max Holloway, Jair Rodríguez, Brian Ortega are no longer the fighters they used to be. Holloway has had many battles, he has suffered a lot, and I don’t think he can keep up with Ilia today,” he warned, and his words came true.
Under Gallo's guidance, Ilia, who holds dual nationality: Georgian and Spanish, has not only showcased his talent in the octagon but has also demonstrated that, with proper preparation, it is possible to compete at the highest level and dethrone the best in the world.
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