I Met the Man Who Knocked Down Ilia Topuria | Exclusive Interview with Steven Goncalves

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Steven “Guts” Goncalves, the South African MMA fighter who once knocked down Ilia Topuria in their Brave CF battle — just before Topuria’s UFC rise. Steven opens up about: 🥋 His early life in South Africa and how martial arts saved him from a path of street fights, alcohol, and the wrong crowd. 💪 His start in MMA at age 25 — proving that it’s never too late to chase greatness. 🔥 The experience of facing Topuria, the moment he dropped him with a clean shot, and what that fight taught him. 🇿🇦 His thoughts on Drikus Du Plessis, another South African powerhouse taking over the UFC middleweight division. 🧩 His mindset, fighting style, and how he blends striking, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu to become a complete mixed martial artist. 🏆 His goals for the future — including his dream of reaching PFL or UFC gold. We also discuss the spiritual and mental side of fighting — discipline, purpose, and the hunger to keep pushing forward. This interview is more than just fight talk — it’s a story of redemption, resilience, and the warrior spirit. 👉 Subscribe for more exclusive MMA interviews, fight breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes insights from Thailand and around the world. #iliatopuria #ufc #champion #knockdown #stevengoncalves #mma #fighter