If Ilia Topuria will get the job executed in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski, it might set off his Conor McGregor-like ascent to superstardom.
That’s in line with UFC Corridor of Famer Daniel Cormier who believes that ‘El Matador’ has executed a wonderful job of setting himself as much as money in ought to he depart Anaheim’s Honda Middle with featherweight gold wrapped round his waist on February 17.
“[Topuria’s confidence] jogs my memory of Conor about to struggle Jose Aldo,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “He advised you, and he was so certain that he was going to get it executed that you simply knew that if it occurred, he would turn into a star that we’ve by no means seen within the UFC earlier than or in preventing. So, when it occurred, he went to the moon. I really feel like Ilia Topuria is setting himself as much as have that kind of ascent if he can ship on the entire guarantees that he’s making.”
Ilia Topuria Faces His Hardest Take a look at at UFC 298
Topuria has been brimming with confidence ever since his struggle with reigning 145-pound champ Alexander Volkanovski was introduced. And why wouldn’t he? He’s 14-0 in his combined martial arts profession with six of these victories coming below the UFC banner.
However he’s by no means fought somebody like ‘The Nice’
Ilia Topuria’s energy of schedule isn’t precisely doing him any favors within the eyes of his skeptics. In any case, he solely holds two victories over fighters within the featherweight prime 15 — Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett. To his credit score, Emmett is a former interim title challenger, however Mitchell is but to show himself as something greater than a mouthpiece for loopy conspiracy theories.
Nonetheless, ‘El Matador’ is assured that he’ll put away Volkanovski inside the gap. A lot in order that he’s already added “UFC world champion” to his social media profiles and is actively engaged on a documentary that follows his journey from contender to would-be king.
“It looks as if all [Topuria] needs to do is put strain on himself,” Cormier stated. “This dude has now stated he’s releasing a film on turning into the champion of the world, this dude has up to date his [social media] bio with one other win and he’s now the UFC featherweight champion.
“This dude has acknowledged he needs to struggle in the identical stadium the place Actual Madrid performs soccer in Spain. This dude has stated to anybody that may hear how Alexander Volkanovski can’t compete with him. Most individuals below these circumstances need to launch the strain. Not this dude” (h/t MMA Combating).
Are you shopping for into Ilia Topuria’s self-imposed hype, or do you suppose his overabundance of confidence goes to explode in his face come struggle night time?
