Whereas Ilia Topuria’s performances contained in the octagon are spectacular sufficient, the MMA neighborhood, together with lead UFC commentator Jon Anik, is blown away by the arrogance and demeanor of the brand new light-weight champ.
Topuria captured his second divisional title with a sensational knockout of former champ Charles Oliveira in the principle occasion of UFC 317 this previous Saturday. Anik referred to as the motion alongside Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier in Las Vegas.
All through the construct to the combat, Topuria acted like he had already received the belt, even celebrating the title win the night time earlier than the occasion. Anik has been floored by what Topuria has delivered to the desk throughout the board.
“It’s nuts, it’s like nothing I’ve seen earlier than,” Anik advised MMA Combating. “I do know generally I’m criticized for sounding additional hyperbolic, however calm, cool, collected doesn’t even start to explain it. He’s so matter of reality, as if the result is an eventuality towards Corridor of Famer after Corridor of Famer, and now after third Corridor of Famer that I don’t actually know that there’s a comp.
“I imply, sure, there’s quite a lot of Conor McGregor parallels to be drawn, however even the best way after he wins, he’s similar to he doesn’t even have the will to leap on the cage. It’s simply loopy and the celebration the night time earlier than, when an athlete says issues like, ‘I’m simply going to gather the belt and I received it in camp,’ it’s like, yeah, however you continue to obtained to go carry out on combat night time. You’ll be able to’t be flat on combat night time.
“We used to say about Floyd Mayweather, 50-0 is 50-0, he was by no means flat on combat night time. You continue to obtained to exit and do it. However with this man, it’s nearly as if he bends time.”
Topuria’s present three-fight run is among the greatest in UFC historical past. In February 2024, Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to win the featherweight championship. Eight months later, “El Matador” grew to become the primary fighter ever to cease Max Holloway with strikes at UFC 308. Then he stopped Oliveira this previous weekend.
The vibe within the enviornment was unmatched following the knockout. Present LFA flyweight Phumi Nkuta—who attended the occasion with Aljamain Sterling—advised MMA Combating that whereas the fan part of the world went bananas, the fighter part was extra stoic. Shocked, even.
Anik isn’t shocked that was the response from Topuria’s fellow fighters.
“Simply think about if you’re Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, or Dustin Poirier, and also you’re watching that play out,” Anik mentioned. “Any fighter with current historical past with Charles Oliveira from, say 2019 on, and then you definitely see that, proper? And don’t inform me this isn’t a major Charles Oliveira. I imply, if that is The Starvation Video games, he nonetheless leads the league.
“He’s nonetheless as hungry as ever to combat. So think about what it’s like for a few of Ilia Topuria’s contemporaries to be watching that, and I believe that speaks to why that part was shocked. And fortunately as commentators, we had been something however silent as a result of we now have a job to do, however I believe for lots of followers, you and me, it’s like, dude, I’m not going to place something previous this man. I wasn’t liking his possibilities at welterweight earlier than this outcome, after which I’m considering, my goodness, man, far be it for me to place something previous the man. … This Ilia Topuria, man, he’s certainly one of one, and his friends are definitely taking discover.”
After all, the massive debate popping out of UFC 317 is whether or not or not Topuria is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet over Islam Makhachev, the earlier light-weight champion who vacated the belt for a transfer to welterweight.
Anik understands the subject is totally goal, however whereas many consider the pound-for-pound wrestle is between two fighters, Anik says there’s a 3rd.
“So it’s laborious to lose your primary slot in the event you’re Islam Makhachev in the event you haven’t misplaced a combat, however is it not loopy that we reside in a world proper now wherein in the event you go to UFC.com and Islam Makhachev isn’t a champion anymore?,” Anik defined. “What did that man do to not be a UFC undisputed champion proper now? It’s unattainable to argue towards what Ilia Topuria has achieved. It’s very laborious to argue towards what Merab Dvalishvili has achieved, and positively Islam simply hasn’t been the frequent competitor that Merab has been or perhaps Ilia, I suppose, has been over the past nevertheless many months.
“However, I imply, my goodness, man. It’s splitting hairs. It’s a three-headed monster so far as I’m involved, however in the event you simply take Ilia and Merab and desk Makhachev, who has been my No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet for what appears like half a decade, they’ve maximized their scenario. Each of these two guys, maximize their utility and I don’t know, in the event you like knockouts, then Topuria is your man over Merab. However by way of like historic dominance, Merab is correct there.”
