Jorge Climent, the longtime coach of former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, has opened up about the pair’s recent split.
Alongside his brother Agustin, Climent has guided Topuria throughout his mixed martial arts career, going back to his days as a teenager cutting his teeth in the amateur circuit all the way up to his stunning third-round knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308.
Understandably, Climent felt a variety of emotions when their lengthy partnership came to an end, but the Climent Club founder made it clear that there was no lingering animosity between the two.
During an interview with Submission Radio, Climent offered some insight into why the two parties mutually agreed to go their separate ways.
“No, no, we don’t work anymore together,” Climent said. “He goes his own way and we go ours. This is not good for the sentimental thing, you know, but it’s life. We went with him all the journey, and now he grows and he wants to fly away, you know.
“We are very proud to do all the way with him, we are very proud for everything he does, you know, and we are very, very—I don’t know how to say it… Yes, of course, we are a little sad, but I want everything in his life to continue going well, you know. I want all good for him and his brother, and I think they do the same for us.”
Ilia Topuria’s move to Madrid ultimately ended his relationship with climent Club
Topuria’s split from Jorge Climnet came as a shock to fighters and fans alike. But in truth, it’s been a long time coming.
Previously, Topuria resided in Alicante, Spain, where Climent Club is located, but with his stardom skyrocketing in recent years, ‘El Matador’ has found himself frequenting Madrid for various media obligations and business-related ventures.
Before long, Topuria decided to pick up his family and move them to the country’s capital.
“Ilia went to live in Madrid, and I have my own project here with my brother,” he added. “We have our family, we have our club, we have a lot of fighters, we have our promotion. Ilia went to Madrid, he has his own gym in his house, and he wants all the energy on him, you know, and we decided like gentlemen to have our own way.”
