Just over a month after his enormous title fight of the main event at UFC 317, Ilia Topuria has made a major change in his training camp.
Last week UFC boss Dana White shocked that Islam Makhachev left its lightweight title when pursuing a goodweight title shot against Jack della Maddalena.
And with that the Main Event of UFC 317 was finally unveiled, because Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira for the empty lightweight title.
With 'El Matador' a little more than a month of finally fighting for the title of 155 pounds, he has claimed that he will not give Makhakev an immediate title shot if the Russian decision will return to weight.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria splits from lifelong coaches for UFC 317
With UFC 317 planned on 28 June, Topuria and Oliveira are probably starting their camps now and they start to perform things for their collision.
On Monday, however, it was revealed that Topuria expressed himself from his coaches, Agustin and Jorge Climent, prior to his lightweight title fight.
The two brothers run Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, where 'El Matador' and his brother Aleksandre Topuria have trained since the start of their MMA trips.
Last year after his titles, the Spaniard moved to Madrid from Alicante, which apparently caused the gap in his training.
“Both parties live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from working together as they ever did,” noted the Marca report.
Topuria thanked his lifelong coaches and said: “We thank them for all those years of mutual learning and growth, and they wish them the very best in all their projects.”
The 28-year-old team is now expected to consist of his brother, Aleksandre, Jesus Gallo, Javi climate (no relationship with the climent brothers), Mani Tavanaei and Mathias Ribeiro.
Aleksandre Topuria outlines a perfect scenario for Ilia Topuria
Although the 28-year-old will not be officially classified as a double champion if he beats 'Do Bronx' on UFC 317, he will still become a member of an elite group of fighters to win a title in two different weight classes.
Prior to his enormous task, Topuria has already shy through to the possibility of moving to good weight in the future to make history as the very first hunter who ever wins a title in three different weight classes.
“The perfect scenario would be for Ilia to win, for Islam to win in the Welterweight Division, and then for Ilia to fight for a third belt. Historically,” Aleksandre told Enrique Gimeno Mma.