The UFC Vederweight King and its iconic rival championship were against each other against each other on the UFC 312: du Persis vs Strickland 2 prelims.
Residence hero Alexander Volkanovski was in the corner of the old teammate Colby Dicknesse, while Ilia Topuria was there to support his older brother Aleksandre Topuria.
While the Spanish-georgian brothers and sisters eventually walked away with a unanimous decision gain, the former title enemies had no resentment towards each other with UFC cameras who caught what happened when they met backstage.
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria share healthy NA-PUC 312 Moment
After he had lifted his hand about Colby Dicknesse, the now 6-1 Aleksandre Topuria would show respect for both his UFC 312 opponent and Volkanovski for the way he had behaved during the Vechtweek.
“Colby has shown me a great fight, he is a great rival and I think this man deserves a UFC contract,” Aleksandre told Daniel Cormier in the Octagon.
That showing respect extended to his younger brother, with UFC cameras that tasted images from the moment that Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski came after the fight face-to-face backstage.
The featherweight superstars can be seen to embrace and exchange a short word before Volkanovski withdrew to remind Topuria of the promise he made to him last year.
“We still have to do the cookin – cook with people!” The former champion laughed and added that it was on Topuria to 'take the wine with you'.
Volkanovski and Topuria are expected to rematch rematch later this year, although 'El Matador' has plagued that he is ready to go up and challenge Islam Makhachev for the throne of 155 pounds.
Aleksandre Topuria on the competitive rivalry of his brother with Volkanovski
During the press conference after the fight, Aleksandre Topuria would again show respect to Volkanovski, before he would tackle how he felt about the rivalry of his brother who was such a critical story of Vechtweek.
“As soon as the cage was closed, it is not Ilia vs Alexander Volkanovski, that is certainly a great rivalry, but if they don't fight, we are chill – nothing but respect.
“If there was some bad blood, okay, I understand, but there is no bad blood, at least this time there was no – so when they asked me about the rivalry, it was as if” you don't understand. “
The 6-1 Bantam weight acknowledged that the storyline brought more eyes and attention to his fight with thickness, but now that their fight was over, there is “nothing but respect” between them.
“I understand that there is a little more hype because it is Ilia vs Volkanovski [again] And this is good, but for me this is not rivalry … nothing but respect, everything is good.
“I always show respect for Alexander Volkanovski, it doesn't matter if they are fighting or not. I know this man works hard, he is a great father, a great man, great countryman, he represents very well – what can I say, he has made my brother bigger and he makes me bigger. Nothing but respect. “
Comments