Has Topuria shown any vulnerabilities?

[biscuitsbrah]

Tends to be out landed and hit a good bit which leaves him open to losing rounds.

Max and Volk out landed him pretty easily, but the constant pressure and power eventually got to them. Fighters like Ilia don't last long at the top, they get hit too much and are willing to trade blow for blow. Every elite fighter has been able to outland him, and every competent striker has been able to outland him or keep the margin very close (aside from Emmett).

A fighter with better measurables than Ilia who utilizes good activity, movement, and kicks will give him a lot of trouble. Then combine that with a good wrestling threat and his pressure game will be halted.
IIRC Max Holloway only defended his belt 3 times, much like Ilia he was this young unstoppable force of nature. Then when he fought someone who didn't fold early, and was able to outland him over 5 rounds he lost and could never beat that guy (Volk).

I think the same will happen to Ilia, I would be shocked if he could go undefeated in his next 4-5 fights.

Topuria undefeated though. Max lost several times on the way to the top. It’s not unfathomable to see him defend more than Max

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Chin.

Topouria is a very talented boxer, I mean, really talented for a UFC guy.

But that "tiny head" always = "questionable chin" ...

I don't think he's going to be taking the shots from bigger men all that well, IMO.

.

Do you have a big head sir. I'm sporting 24 inches

 

[checktheknuckles]

He hasn't shown any vulnerabilities, but you know what I noticed recently? Topuria would be the favorite against Belal, and rightfully so

I think this is the first time in UFC history where the FW champ is favored to beat the WW champ and it's due to both Topuria being THAT good and Belal being one of the worst champs in recent history who is also old and has been dropped and hurt several times

wmma?

 

[swarrrm]

Paddy the baddy

 

[Bret 'The Hitman' Hart]

His only known vulnerability for now is that he looks like he could have a unibrow if he didn't shave it

 

[Streeter]

Yes - sanity

 

[RockyLockridge]

His biggest weakness so far has been his personality

Weird, I think he has one of the coolest personalities out there

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Been willing to take one to give one, always dangerous at this level. No one with enough power to capitalise off the top of my head

I agree. But he was also more careful against Emmet who is a very powerful puncher.

His fight with Volk was competitive until the KO. But hey.. Volk is as good as they come.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

He hasn't shown any vulnerabilities, but you know what I noticed recently? Topuria would be the favorite against Belal, and rightfully so

I think this is the first time in UFC history where the FW champ is favored to beat the WW champ and it's due to both Topuria being THAT good and Belal being one of the worst champs in recent history who is also old and has been dropped and hurt several times

Belal is very good.

He is frustrating to watch but he is good.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Weird, I think he has one of the coolest personalities out there

Weird.

 

[SpurNani]

Hes been hurt by head kicks twice

 

[Rektkid]

I think he's vulnerable to a kicking game and someone like Charles with his height could cause a lot of problems with his knees. Also, I still think he has a questionable gas tank although that could be due to him cutting a lot of weight.

 

[Luckyme]

Tends to be out landed and hit a good bit which leaves him open to losing rounds.

Max and Volk out landed him pretty easily, but the constant pressure and power eventually got to them. Fighters like Ilia don't last long at the top, they get hit too much and are willing to trade blow for blow. Every elite fighter has been able to outland him, and every competent striker has been able to outland him or keep the margin very close (aside from Emmett).

A fighter with better measurables than Ilia who utilizes good activity, movement, and kicks will give him a lot of trouble. Then combine that with a good wrestling threat and his pressure game will be halted.
IIRC Max Holloway only defended his belt 3 times, much like Ilia he was this young unstoppable force of nature. Then when he fought someone who didn't fold early, and was able to outland him over 5 rounds he lost and could never beat that guy (Volk).

I think the same will happen to Ilia, I would be shocked if he could go undefeated in his next 4-5 fights.

Great observation and I agree, Ilia gets hit way too easily. He's got a good chin and has fought mostly volume punchers so he's able to eat shots for a couple of rounds until he manages to cut distance and land a power shot. It will be harder to pull that off against someone else with KO power but then, there are few who can equal Ilia's power even at LW.

Ilia's wrestling is the one area where he might be beaten. Bryce Mitchell put him on his back easily and he's no world class wrestler. Imagine what bigger and more skilled guys like Islam and Armen could do to him on the ground.

 

[BowserJr]

Head kicks

 

[TRYHARD 2001]

How did it take this long to post this?

Black Country BANGA!!!

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

he fights short. all the cons that come with being small are his weaknesses because of that. if someone uses a lot of attacks up the middle, it will be problematic for him, uppercuts, front kicks, knees, jabs. if someone picks at his defense from the outside and just waits for him to commit. someone who attacks his legs and kills his base.

but i think the biggest weakness of his, is his over reliance on his power to intimidate opponents and allow him to dictate the pace. once he faces someone who isn't that impressed by his power, his style is going to completely fold in my opinion.

 

[cburm]

I thought so but the guy is smart he leaves an open guys get comfortable and he changes it up on them with a slip so his people end up underestimating his boxing and it's beautiful.

The guy is so small but can break that gap and connect even on the big reach disadvantages.

Max looked good for 2 rounds felt comfortable then boom put to sleep.

Volk though he had him with movement and straights and a jab then boom put to sleep

It's almost like he gives them a game plan that he already knows then counters it and takes it away and ends it.

The only thing he fed them was his power.
And they game planed around that.

 

[Chama]

Topuria could be the greatest MMA fighter ever. His ambition is relentless and it's his biggest strength and weakness. If you are looking for physical weaknesses in terms of vulnerabilities, probably taller fighters who could land head kicks.

You mean like Islam ?

 

[Morning Star]

He's midgetity. I suppose if he really wants to move up to LW he would have a length and height issues.

 

[JBJ was here]

Do you have a big head sir. I'm sporting 24 inches

Puny, puny man. I ordered a size 8 cap (25") for graduation and had to borrow bobby pins from a classmate to keep it on when I walked because it was too small.