Ilia Topuria could look invincible, however he actually doesn’t really feel that means.
Every time ‘El Matador’ steps contained in the Octagon, he appears to be like like a real-life Superman. His win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 was no completely different.
However Topuria’s success will not be the results of Kryptonian cells or another metahuman energy like in comedian books.
As a substitute, it comes from exhausting work and dedication as a result of deep down, Topuria is aware of that if he’s not giving all the pieces he has within the gymnasium, he’ll finally fall contained in the cage.
“I don’t really feel invincible. Fairly the opposite, I really feel that I’m beatable, and that’s why I work so exhausting,” Topuria stated throughout his post-fight interview. “I put a lot dedication into it. The work is so properly performed that I really feel there’s little doubt left. That’s why I rejoice issues the evening earlier than, as a result of I really feel the victory is constructed and ought to be celebrated on the finish of camp.”
Ilia Topuria needs Paddy Pimblett
Following his jaw-dropping knockout of ‘Do Bronx’ at UFC 317, Topuria has etched his identify within the historical past books, turning into one of many few fighters to seize titles in two completely different divisions.
Now sitting because the undisputed king of the light-weight division, fighters are already lining as much as be the primary to greatest him contained in the Octagon. Following Saturday’s pay-per-view occasion in Las Vegas, Topuria engaged in a heated faceoff with Paddy Pimblett, a fighter who has been on his sh*t checklist for the previous few years.
Pimblett may very properly be Topuria’s first challenger at light-weight, however the Liverpudlian could must go one remaining check earlier than securing his first crack at UFC gold. In accordance with a current remark from 185-pound champ Dricus Du Plessis, Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje is within the works for UFC 319 in August, with the winner probably shifting on to face Topuria in late 2025 or early 2026.
With no official bulletins to this point, Pimblett vs. Gaethje is nothing greater than a rumor, but when the UFC is seeking to ebook a No. 1 contender’s battle, ‘The Baddy’ vs. ‘The Spotlight’ sounds fairly rattling good to us.