Former UFC lightweight champion says 'Ilia | MMA News
Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria moved up a division and seize the lightweight title by knocking out former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28 (full combat video).
The win capped off one of essentially the most spectacular three-fight runs in the promotion’s historical past. “El Matador” knocked out arguably the best featherweight of all time, Alexander Volkanovski, at UFC 298 to win the 145-pound championship. In his first and only title protection, Topuria grew to become the first fighter to knockout BMF titleholder and former featherweight champ Max Holloway.
Former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez was ‘shocked’ by the way in which Topuria was in a position to rapidly and brutally put Oliveira away.
“My biggest thing was I didn’t think Ilia was going to put him out before he hit the canvas. Everybody kind of puts Charles down. Everyone knew Ilia was going to put Charles down. I didn’t know he was going to put him out like that. I was shocked,” Alvarez informed Helen Yee Sports.
“When you look at the last three guys: Volkanovski and Charles and Max Holloway, these are legends back-to-back that he’s knocking out. The guy is special. He’s special,” Alvarez continued.
Related: UFC White House occasion to happen on the South Lawn
Topuria has only gone to a choice twice in his 17-fight profession. Despite Topuria’s spectacular rise, Alvarez still has some unanswered questions.
“What I do want to see out of Ilia, what I really want to see him pushed at is I want to see him on the ground and back up and on the ground and back up. See if he can transition from one thing to the next and still keep this cardio and keep his spirit,” Alvarez stated.
Alvarez received the UFC lightweight championship in July 2016 defeating Rafael dos Anjos via TKO in the first spherical. He was defeated in his first title protection by Conor McGregor 4 months later.
Stay up to date with the newest information in combined martial arts! Our web site is your go-to source for cutting-edge MMA information, combat highlights, fighter stats, and insights into upcoming matchups. We present each day updates to guarantee you have got access to the freshest info on combat outcomes, rankings, damage reviews, and main bulletins.
Explore how these trends are shaping the long run of the game! Visit us frequently for essentially the most participating and informative MMA content material by clicking right here. Our fastidiously curated articles will keep you knowledgeable on UFC occasions, championship fights, fighter contracts, and historic moments in the octagon.
