Latest news with #Topuria
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
UFC star makes confident Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria admission
Pimblett and Topuria have been on a collision course ever since they clashed at the fighter hotel during UFC London in 2022, and the fight could soon be on the horizon UFC welterweight sensation Ian Machado Garry has predicted a fight between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would go down as one of the "biggest fights" ever. The bad blood between 'The Baddy' and Topuria dates back to an infamous altercation three years ago during a UFC London event. After a heated exchange in the fighter hotel, Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria, sparking chaotic scenes. The clash in London seemed to ignite the bitter feud, and there have been teases about them facing off in the octagon despite previously competing in different divisions. However, that all changed earlier this year when Topuria vacated his featherweight title in favour of a move up to 155lbs. 'El Matador' has jumped straight into a title fight against Charles Oliveira for the newly vacated 155lb championship belt at next month's UFC 317, following Islam Makhachev's decision to step up to welterweight. Providing Topuria comes away with the win and unscathed, it could set up eagerly anticipated clash with the Liverpudlian. 'The Baddy' recently secured the most significant victory of his career against Michael Chandler, and despite many believing the Brit needs another win before competing for the title, he could be thrust into a title bout with Topuria due to their mutual animosity. While 'El Matador' is set to fight Oliveira, a close friend of Machado Garry, the Irishman is still keen to see a showdown between Topuria and Pimblett. In an interview with he said: "Paddy's been phenomenal. You can't give nothing but praise to what he's done and how he's done it. He's gone out there. He's backed up everything he said. He's beaten and is beating everyone that's been put in front of him and he's looked great and has that popularity inside and outside the Octagon, he's doing what he needs to do, and he's doing a very good job at it. Paddy and Ilia is a massive, massive fight if that happens down the line. It's going to be so big, so big. I reckon that's a stadium [fight]. That'll be one of the biggest fights we've ever seen." Pimblett is indeed keen on facing Topuria in Abu Dhabi in October, but he admits that his likely opponent will be Justin Gaethje. "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." The Brit was asked about his interest in dangerous contender Arman Tsarukyan - to which he replied: "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."
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
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Coach Ray Longo wonders why Ilia Topuria's former team can't be part of UFC 317 camp
Coach Ray Longo wonders why Ilia Topuria's former team can't be part of UFC 317 camp Champion-level head coach Ray Longo believes Ilia Topuria will be fine as he transitions to a new gym, but also wonders why his old coach can't be a part of the fight camp for Charles Oliveira. Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will move up to lightweight to fight for the vacant title against Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) in the main event of UFC 317. Not only is Topuria leaving the featherweight title behind, he's also making a coaching change from Jorge and Agustin Climent as he settles into his own gym in Madrid, Spain. While all parties involved say the split was amicable, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier questioned the move, considering the team helped build Topuria into the star he is today. Cormier would like to see the Climents be a part of Topuria's camp, even if it's just for a short period. Longo, who has led multiple UFC fighters to championship gold, shares the same thought. "I'm going to agree with Cormier, too," Longo said on the "Anik & Florian Podcast." "That coach can come in for one or two weeks and, I'm not saying make a big difference, but can hold to what they were doing. ... Everybody makes this decision after they're already on the top for a while, you know what I mean? Would he have made that decision as he was coming up when he really needed the guy? That's where I get a little salty with this. Like hey, if you're going to do it, do it at the beginning. I go back to what Teddy Atlas said to me in that interview, he said Gus Damato always told him, 'What a guy does in the end, is what he always wanted to do in the beginning.'" Longo has experienced dealing with fighters moving to a different gym in the middle of their championship runs, such as Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. However, the difference is that they moved to Las Vegas to better deal with the COVID pandemic. The move was a necessity, but Longo remains in their corner to guide them on fight night, which appears not to be the case with Topuria and the Climent team. "It's probably what he always wanted to do," Longo said. "I think we had a different situation. We all lived together; we were all two minutes from each other. I think it's a totally different vibe. Without the COVID thing, there would have been no changes, and I would have loved to have seen what the gym could have did, because I do miss those guys, too. It was never really a business to me." Despite the changes, Longo believes Topuria will be fine going forward, at least for this upcoming fight against Oliveira. However, he would like to see the old team join the camp for a few days to maintain the familiar feeling in preparation. "He looks like he's squared away to me," Longo said. "That's why I say I think that guy can come in a week, two weeks. I think you just get that vibe right in the corner, and I think that guy's on autopilot. ... There's certain cases where when there's a lot of drama involved, then there's other areas, right? Who knows? You don't want to be stressed out one way or the other, in either direction. So, this one looks like it's a mutual kind of thing where everybody's got their own thing. I don't know, definitely not this fight. I think he'll be squared away with that."
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chael Sonnen concerned by Ilia Topuria's split with coaches ahead of UFC 317
Chael Sonnen concerned by Ilia Topuria's split with coaches ahead of UFC 317 Chael Sonnen is concerned with some of the recent headlines around former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. This week, it was announced that Topuria has split with his long-time coaches, Jorge and Agustin Climent, and will no longer continue his career under the Climent Club banner. The news comes at an interesting time as Topuria's highly anticipated lightweight move sits weeks away. Topuria takes on former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas. Sonnen isn't too sure this was a good decision. "It's a hard story for me to look at," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. "I just know I couldn't have done it. I couldn't have done it. If one day Clayton (Sonnen's coach) calls me up and tells me he's out, I would've been done. I wouldn't have done it, and I could overcome a lot of things, but not that. Now, this was by choice. This wasn't a death like Mike Tyson and Cus D'Amato just for example. This was by choice, but you're still somewhere else, and I have never seen anybody be able to prepare themselves, and I know plenty of people in different sports that have tried." Topuria moved from Alicante, where Climent Club is located, to Madrid last year in pursuit of better business opportunities. Training with Climent Club at a distance didn't work for either party, thus causing the split. Topuria will continue to train with his boxing coach Javi Climent – who moved from Alicante to Madrid; his nutritionist and physical trainer Jesus Gallo and Aldo Martinez; and jiu-jitsu black belts Mani Tavanaei and Mathias Ribeiro – who were incorporated into Topuria's team in recent times. Sonnen is concerned about there not being an apparent head coach for Topuria. "Mayweather has a coach, Mike Tyson has a coach, Serena has a coach, Lebron has a coach, Kobe has a coach, Tiger Woods," Sonnen said. "They've all got a coach. Everybody has somebody – whether it's knowledge, inspiration or that extra drive, but everybody has a coach. I have seen plenty of greats that have tried to hire that coach. I have seen plenty of greats that have lost that coach because they refuse to hire him where they thought they could replace somebody and just give him some money, and he'll be with them for a camp. Or more often, I refuse to pay him, so he's gone and I have somebody else. I just don't have one of those stories that has worked out." Time will tell on how things will work out for Topuria, but Sonnen isn't a fan of this system Topuria has put in place, which now has him training at home in Madrid. "For some reason, it doesn't sit well with me," Sonnen said. "I'm trying to predict, and I'm trying to foresee, and I'm thinking about these people coming into his house every day, and then they leave the house and then somebody has to go clean the room, and then it just gets annoying. We'll see how long this lasts. We'll see how long this works out."
