Yair Rodriguez just isn’t a fan of Ilia Topuria.
On Saturday, Topuria challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 298 in Anaheim, Calif. It’s Volkanovski’s first combat again since getting knocked out by Islam Makhachev in October, and the short turnaround has many involved for the long-reigning featherweight champion.
Though Rodriguez believes it’s not perfect, he nonetheless believes in Volkanovski.
“I used to be shocked about him taking one other combat after the KO, so quickly in opposition to Topuria,” Rodriguez instructed Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “So I believe he did a little bit little bit of a mistake there. I might have waited a little bit bit longer.
“I believe he’s going to win. However I simply assume in all the probabilities, the one cause I believe Topuria might win is [Volkanovski] gained’t be 100%. Not mentally, however possibly bodily, within his head. Who is aware of what occurs after you get a KO. Topuria hits exhausting. There are a number of components. That’s the one factor that I believe can have an effect on Volkanovski. He’s actually good, he’s actually good. I believe he’s a approach higher fighter than Topuria, and I believe he’ll win.”
Rodriguez confronted Volkanovski this previous July, shedding by third-round TKO of their featherweight title unification bout at UFC 290, and which will play a think about his breakdown of the combat. However his confidence in Volkanovski additionally is likely to be attributable to his emotions about Topuria.
“I simply don’t f****** just like the man,” Rodriguez stated. “He talks a lot s***, and I believe it was a simple approach for him to go and combat for the title. I’m not solely going to say me, however totally different fighters, we’ve got to go combat like true warriors, true f****** lions, and this man, I believe it was a neater solution to go and combat for the title. That’s it. I believe the UFC is making it straightforward for him.
“He does a reasonably good job advertising and marketing himself. The most important factor on this sport, if you understand how to market your self, you get the higher offers, you get the higher fights. It’s no secret. Everyone is aware of that, and I believe he’s nice at doing that. I don’t blame him for that. I simply don’t f****** just like the man. …
“It’s unhappy that folks like him get the higher fights due to his mouth, not due to his fights. I don’t f****** like that. No matter the results of this combat, I might f****** prefer to f*** him up.”
If Rodriguez is flawed, although, and Topuria beats Volkanovski, his hopes of going through the Spaniard may not be really easy to manifest. Earlier this month, Topuria stated if he wins the belts, he’ll goal a combat with Conor McGregor over giving opponents like Rodriguez — who failed in opposition to Volkanovski — a title shot.
Unsurprisingly, Rodriguez didn’t take kindly to that.
“He’s f****** delusional,” Rodriguez stated. “He’s not even f****** in the identical world as us. One other f****** planet. I’m fairly positive Volkanovski goes to do the primary job in f****** him up after which he’s going to must eat all of those phrases and everyone goes to be f****** laughing at him, I can guarantee you of that. …
“I by no means gave a f*** concerning the man till he began f****** speaking s*** about me. I didn’t actually take note of him, however that is the identify of the game. You discuss anyone that’s higher recognized than you within the sport, and then you definitely begin turning into extra recognized. That’s what he’s doing. Let’s be sincere about this, as a result of this isn’t a secret. He’ll discuss s*** about whoever. He’s mentioning Canelo, he’s mentioning McGregor, why do you assume he’s doing that? It’s advertising and marketing. He won’t ever get to combat anyone like McGregor, he won’t ever get to face anyone like Canelo. After all not. …
“His profession will likely be over after this combat in opposition to Volkanovski. He’s been speaking a lot s***, saying so many issues, and persons are going to be f****** laughing at him after this.”
Rodriguez is presently scheduled to face Brian Ortega in a five-round rematch within the co-main occasion of UFC Mexico later this month. Given the state of the featherweight title image proper now, and his perception that Volkanovski will retain the belt, Rodriguez doesn’t imagine a combat with Topuria will occur instantly. However when it does, he’d be very happy to settle their variations – and even give Topuria the house subject benefit.
“If I win my combat in opposition to Brian Ortega, which I’m planning on doing, and Alexander Volkanovski wins, I want to face Volkanovski, after all,” Rodriguez stated. “Why would I face [Topuria]? He has nothing to supply. However I want to face him, sooner or later, and f*** him up.
“If UFC plans to go to Spain, f***, I might like to combat in Spain. It’s his home. I might like to f****** beat him in his home.”
