Latest news with #IliaTopuria
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Chandler: Striking favors Ilia Topuria, but Charles Oliveira is 'tough everywhere'
Michael Chandler: Striking favors Ilia Topuria, but Charles Oliveira is 'tough everywhere' Michael Chandler knows first hand not to count out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) is a sizable underdog for his vacant lightweight title fight against Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the June 28 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Chandler fought Oliveira twice – losing to him the first time by knockout at UFC 262, then by unanimous decision at UFC 309. "It's tough. You don't bet against freaking Charles Oliveira because he's so dang good everywhere, and he's a really hard guy to beat," Chandler told MMA Junkie. "With that being said, Ilia Topuria's got some crazy power in his hands, and crazy accurate strikes. It's going to be very interesting to see how that fight goes. You've got to think that in the striking department leans towards Ilia, but Charles is tough everywhere. Obviously fighting him twice, I know." The UFC's lightweight division saw a lot of moving parts after Topuria vacated his featherweight belt for a move up, and Islam Makhachev relinquished his 155-pound title to go to welterweight. Chandler knows he could have found himself in the title picture if he was able to beat any of his past two opponents. "No, I'm not surprised," Chandler said on the state of the lightweight division. "And I think maybe some of those rumors and stuff maybe played into my decision on why I wanted to fight Paddy, why I wanted to get back in there. "Obviously if you look at the timing, I should have had a win against Oliveira. I messed that up. I should have had a win against Paddy. I messed that up. I've had these great opportunities and they've just slipped through my fingertips. So if I would have beat Charles, I'd be fighting Ilia for the title right now. But this is the way the sport goes."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Roy Jones Jr offers to help coach UFC star ahead of historic world title fight
Jones Jr - who has great experience coaching the biggest names in boxing - has offered to help training a UFC fighter just weeks before their world title fight Boxing icon Roy Jones Jr has unexpectedly offered to coach Ilia Topuria in the run-up to his lightweight title showdown against Charles Oliveira. Topuria, a former UFC featherweight champion, is set to face off against the Brazilian for the vacant 155lb title on 28 June at UFC 317. This follows shortly after Islam Makhachev relinquished the belt to move up to welterweight, with an immediate title shot against Jack Della Maddalena expected later this year. Oliveira is aiming to reclaim the lightweight championship after losing it to Makhachev in 2022. Meanwhile, Topuria, the Spaniard-Georgian claimed the featherweight title after defeating Alexander Volkanovski last year and successfully defended it with a victory over Max Holloway. Known as 'El Matador', Topuria was initially recognised for his formidable skills on the mat during his rise through the ranks. However, in recent years, his striking ability has significantly improved, earning him recognition as one of the sport's top strikers. With only weeks remaining until his match against Oliveira, Jones Jr has offered to assist the 28-year-old in sharpening his tools. In an interview with Prime Casino, the boxing icon said: "I would make a lot of difference [to Ilia Topuria's camp for Charles Oliveira] because I teach how to get the most out of the striking, how to stay set while you're doing it. Because in MMA you gotta always be set because guys can take your legs out, but the way I fight you always stay set, so I think what I teach would be advantageous to anybody who chose to indulge in it and get what I really teach." The 56-year-old boxing veteran - who last stepped into the ring in 2023 - added: "Roy understands the mechanics of all boxing, all fighting, not just boxing, all arts of fighting. Roy understands the mechanics of MMA totally well and totally understands what's necessary and what's not necessary to make you a better fighter." With the eagerly anticipated clash on the around the corner, Ilia Topuria has shocked the MMA world by parting ways with his lifelong coaches, Agustin and Jorge Climent. The Climent brothers run the renowned Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, where 'El Matador' and his sibling Aleksandre Topuria had trained during their early days in MMA. Following his featherweight championship victory last year, Topuria took the significant step of relocating from Alicante to Madrid. There appears to have been a split in the training camp of the former featherweight champion, as "both sides live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating as they once did," according to a MARCA report. Expressing his gratitude for the support over the years, Topuria extended his thanks: "We thank them for all these years of mutual learning and growth, and they wholeheartedly wish them all the best in all their projects." As he gears up for the bout with his Brazilian opponent, Topuria is expected to have a team that includes his brother, Aleksandre, Jesus Gallo, Javi Climent – who is not connected to the Climent brothers – Mani Tavanaei, and Mathias Ribeiro.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pimblett targeting Topuria or Gaethje fight in October
Paddy Pimblett says he would love to fight Ilia Topuria in Abu Dhabi in October but his opponent is most likely to be Justin Pimblett earned a statement win over Michael Chandler last month before calling for his next bout to be against an opponent ranked in the top Topuria faces Brazil's Charles Oliveira for the lightweight belt at UFC 317 on 28 June after former champion Islam Makhachev vacated his belt to move up to Gaethje doesn't have a fight booked and is third in the UFC's lightweight rankings - five places above UFC usually hosts a numbered event in Abu Dhabi in October but a potential date for this year's show is yet to be set."I'm hoping to fight in Abu Dhabi in October. I think that's when I'm going to be back in the cage," Pimblett told BBC Sport."I was thinking Ilia might call me out if he wins [against Oliveira]. I'd love to beat him if he gets the belt."I'd love to fight him anyway but he's booked, so I think it's more than likely Justin Gaethje."Pimblett has history with former featherweight champion Topuria after the pair clashed at a hotel before UFC London in 28, vacated his belt earlier this year to move up to lightweight, opening the door to a potential fight with meanwhile, last fought in March with a win over Rafael Fiziev - and with 20 knockouts from 26 bouts, he remains one of the most popular fighters on the fourth-ranked Max Holloway facing fifth-ranked Dustin Poirier on 19 July, the only other fighter without a fight booked in the top five is Armenia's Arman Tsarukyan, who Pimblett has no interest in."No one [cares] about Arman Tsarukyan and people actually want to watch Gaethje fight. People know it'll be an exciting fight, me versus Gaethje," said Pimblett."Tsarukyan, he's just an absolute tool, and then it's me and Gaethje. "One win away and I'll be fighting for the belt. Yeah, that's always been the aim. It's the only aim that we have." 'White needs to come to Anfield' Since his UFC debut in 2021 Pimblett has won all seven fights and grown into one of the most popular fighters in the has long wanted to headline a show in his hometown Liverpool but the UFC hasn't held an event in the city since 2018, instead choosing to put shows on in London and Liverpool's biggest arena, the M&S Bank Arena, only has a capacity of 11,000, Pimblett has suggested Premier League champions Liverpool's stadium Anfield as a potential president Dana White, however, has often opted against hosting shows in stadiums, citing a lack of atmosphere and potential rain as the reasons has suggested White should visit Anfield to watch a Liverpool game to change his mind."It needs to be Anfield. That's the only the only viable place to do it. And I know Dana doesn't like doing stadiums, he's done it in Australia, but Anfield is different," said Pimblett."He needs to come to Anfield on a Champions League night or when we play Manchester United or something like that, or even the blue shirt [Everton]."You need to come and watch because you'd be like 'wow, this is unbelievable'."
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Q&A with Danny Segura: Ilia Topuria splits with coaches, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall wait
Q&A with Danny Segura: Ilia Topuria splits with coaches, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall wait MMA Junkie's Danny Segura answers your questions regarding the latest topics in MMA. With no episode of 'Spinning Back Clique' this week, MMA Junkie is hosting a special live stream Q&A with reporter Danny Segura on Monday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Segura will take your questions regarding the latest topics in the world of MMA. There's always plenty to talk about in combat sports with Ilia Topuria parting ways with his long-time coaches Jorge and Agustin Climent weeks away from his UFC 317 title fight against Charles Oliveira, the latest in the never-ending drama around Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, this Saturday's Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber women's flyweight contest, and much more. Watch MMA Junkie's live Q&A with Segura in the video above, and submit your questions in the YouTube live chat.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Q&A with Danny Segura: Ilia Topuria splits with coaches, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall wait
With no episode of 'Spinning Back Clique' this week, MMA Junkie is hosting a special live stream Q&A with reporter Danny Segura on Monday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Segura will take your questions regarding the latest topics in the world of MMA. There's always plenty to talk about in combat sports with Ilia Topuria parting ways with his long-time coaches Jorge and Agustin Climent weeks away from his UFC 317 title fight against Charles Oliveira, the latest in the never-ending drama around Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, this Saturday's Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber women's flyweight contest, and much more. Watch MMA Junkie's live Q&A with Segura in the video above, and submit your questions in the YouTube live chat. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Q&A with Danny Segura: Ilia Topuria, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
