Two-Division UFC Champ Ilia Topuria Makes Emotional Admission
Ilia Topuria has made an emotional admission before the UFC White House event.
This weekend, in the main event of UFC Freedom 250, Topuria, the undisputed lightweight titleholder and former featherweight kingpin, will face Justin Gaethje, the current and two-time interim 155-pound titleholder.
During fight week, in an interview with Daniel Cormier, “El Matador” was asked why he had apologized to his previous opponent, Charles Oliveira, before their fight.
Responding to Cormier’s question, Topuria confessed that he never wanted to face Oliveira. Instead, he intended to vacate the 145-pound throne, move up, and lock horns with then-lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.
But Makhachev vacated and moved up in pursuit of two-division glory after Jack Della Maddalena dethroned his friend and training partner, Belal Muhammad.
Hence, the Topuria vs. Makhachev superfight didn’t materialize, and once the lightweight throne was vacant, the Georgian-Spaniard knocked out “Do Bronxs” at UFC 317 to capture it.
Topuria promised a first-round knockout and delivered exactly as he predicted against the Brazilian. He had even apologized to Charles Oliveira beforehand, as he sees the 36-year-old as a role model whom he never wanted to fight and wished Oliveira had ducked him.
During the sitdown with “DC,” speaking about the same, he added:
“Originally, I was supposed to face Islam for the lightweight title, and when he decided to move, I got the call from the UFC, and they told me it’s gonna be Charles. So I was like, listen, I didn’t want him to fight me because I knew what would happen in a fight between me and him. I’m so sorry.”
Check out Ilia Topuria’s comments below:
Charles Oliveira thanks Ilia Topuria, wishes “El Matador” the Best for June 14 title bout
During an interview with Ag. Fight, “El Matador” praised Charles Oliveira’s mindset and his ability to bounce back from everything.
After the devastating loss to Topuria, Oliveira bounced back quickly, submitting Mateusz Gamrot. Earlier this year, the Brazilian also dominantly dethroned Max Holloway and captured the BMF throne.
Recently, talking about Oliveira’s “special mindset,” Topuria said:
“The last fight with Max Holloway, he surprised me a lot. The determination he had in the fight, he was very aware of everything, and very confident about himself. In reality, the guy has a lion’s heart because you don’t see that kind of attitude very often. When a guy loses in the UFC, you see how he loses aura and confidence in themselves, but with Charles, the guy has a special mindset, a special heart. All I have for him is respect. I like the guy.”
Reacting to Ilia Topuria’s remarks, “Do Bronxs” posted on X:
“Thank you @Topuriailia. After every defeat I had, I try to improve mindset and technically. And not losing my focus – learning lessons from fights where my opponent performed better. Good luck in #UFCWhiteHouse. God bless folks, and ‘ve a nice weekend.”
Check out Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira’s comments below:
