An aspect of UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is 'overlooked' by many.
Islam Makhachev is no longer the champion to give up his title for a switch to Welterweight. A dream fight from Topurias, the Spanish superstar fought instead and played former champion Charles Oliveira to win a second title in the main event of UFC 317.
These are three consecutive knockouts for Topuria, which come back-to-back stop pages of featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and BMF champion Max Holloway. The 17-0 Topuria predicted that he had all the fan favorites in the first round, with his prediction photo-perfect against Oliveira.
After the fact, Topuria was compared with the legendary Mike Tyson for his unreal KOR power, and box icon Muhammad Ali, for the way he carries himself.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Rampage Jackson says that the mentality of Ilia Topuria is like Muhammad Ali
Topuria is one of the 10 UFC champions that keep belts in two weight classes, the only hunter who does this with an undefeated record.
The hard-handy topuria also surpassed Makhachev as the pound-for-pound king of the UFC.
Former UFC -light heavyweight champion Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson says he had no idea that Topuria was unbeaten, but knew there was something that separated the Spaniard from the rest of the UFC.
'The part about him that many people [are] Overlooked: his mentality, “Jackson said about Topuria on the Jaxxon Podcast.
“Man, I haven't seen many hunters.
“He is like how Muhammad Ali shouted in which rounds he struck people out and things like that.
“He is the new Neo,” Jackson referred to 'The Matrix'.
“I tell you. He knows something that I wanted I would have been, man. He knows,” said the UFC legend about Topuria.
Chael Sonnen says that Ilia has Topuria 'ineffable power', such as Mike Tyson
The knockout power of Topuria is something to see in the UFC Octagon.
'El Matador' killed Oliveira with several shots on UFC 317. The right hook is what Oliveira put out, while the second, third and fourth bumps were exaggerated.
Topuria has now given Volkanovski his first KO loss in featherweight, Holloway his first KO loss ever, and Oliveira the worst loss of his 47-Vecht career.
“There was no real new skills,” said triple UFC title-seconder Chael Sonnen about the last victory of Topuria at the UFC 317 post show.
“I have seen Jabs and Crosses. I have seen crochet. It is just a power that is almost unspeakable,” Sonen explained.
“To be honest, I had to go back to 'Iron' Mike Tyson when I have seen a man who can step up, regardless of the opponent, regardless of age, regardless of experience and to put them down with one fell swoop …”