Someone almost sees Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira beat the distance.
Both men in the UFC 317 Main Event have a finish of almost 90%. Charles Oliveira has the most entries in UFC history, while the Topuria of Spain Back-to-Back Knockouts of Vederweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and BMF title holder Max Holloway is coming.
Oliveira is a considerable underdog against Topuria, with former title holders such as Jorge Masvidal and Aljamain Sterling believing in the Ko power of Topuria.
They are not the only hunters who choose the unbeaten Topuria to win a second title this weekend.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Israël Adesanya supports Ilia Topuria to Ko Charles Oliveira: 'He is being touched too much'
Israel Adesanya is done with doubting Ilia Topuria.
The former UFC champion middleweight knew that the Spaniard was good, but not good enough to beat Volkanovski and Holloway – which he did in a ruthless way.
“To beat two of the greatest featherweights of all time, back-to-back. It's hard to doubt such a man,” Adesanya said about Topuria.
As far as Oliveira is concerned, Adesanya says 'he is being caught too much on my taste'. The Brazilian was dropped in four of his last seven fights and was injured in his most recent fight against Michael Chandler.
“If he wants to move forward immediately, he is caught,” Adesanya said about Oliveira.
“I just see Ilia just as sharp with the hands, man. He is too sharp with the hands.
Charles needs good footwork because I don't think he is going for a long time … let's see what the wrestling is about. Test it because nobody has tested the struggle of Topuria well.
“In this fight I am going to go Ilia Topuria, I go to knock -out,” Adesanya predicted.
“I don't know which round, but for me it is only because Charles, he is being touched too much to my taste, so I just think Ilia will find the shot, I think I just be aggressive as he says and goes ahead, and then if he gets injured, Ilia will find that shot again.”
Israël Adesanya in the hope of UFC recovery against Sean Strickland
In the middleweight division, Adesanya wants to recover from three straight losses to the best hunters in the world.
Adesanya lost his UFC title for the second time in September 2023 when he was defeated by Sean Strickland via a unanimous decision. 'The Last Stylebender' then lost to Champion Drus Du Plessis by submission and Nassourdine Imavov by Knock -Out in February.
Adesanya is still very interested in a rematch with Strickland and insists on a return in September or October.
“He is the only one I want, but he didn't respond,” said Adesanya about Strickland on the Ariel Helwani show.