Rewatch Ilia Topuria at 155

[payton]

Just rewatched this banger.
Topuria fought a LW on a week or 2 weeks notice and sent him into oblivion. Now i'm not an expert but I think he struggled with Jai's length and size before getting the finish.
He was forced to take more shots in order to return fire and he looked hurt every time Jai was landing.
What happens as he moves up the rankings and fights the elite 155ers?
I'm not even saying 155 is out of the question for him, but if he can still safely make 145, I'd say try to be a contender there first and then move up down the line.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

He sure strings nice combos together

Its like the punches just get stronger the more he sequences them together

This Max fight will be fucking NUTS!

 

[Simple Southerner]

He'll stay at 45 once max humbles him

 

[wrb]

But this also happened in the same fight:

I think this Max fight is going to be crazy good and in reality both have so much on the line. This is Max's last chance at a title and Ilia's first defended title after a shitload of weird trash talk that started before Max vs Justin.
Max has a good weight cut but Iilia is not Tom so if he does this is going to be a banger !

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

That was the win the got my attention. 1st rd. Was going terribly for Ilia, but he regrouped and fucking buried Herbert in the 2nd.

Just a brilliant showing from Topuria

 

[Kratos94]

Maybe in the future, he is a little undersized. He has 145 to take care of right now, and I don't see anybody stopping him.

 

[HuskySamoan]

He sure strings nice combos together

Its like the punches just get stronger the more he sequences them together

This Max fight will be fucking NUTS!

Yeah, wrecked Volk with a 4 piece? Pretty sure he slumped Damon Jackson with a 5 piece. He's got some of the best combination punching in MMA. Which is a sad thing to say, unless you're a long outside fighter who liked working behind your jabs and intercepting crosses, you need to have combination skills...each punch compliments the other, they're tools, they're quite literally combinations just like you need multiple correct numbers in order to crack a safe.

 

[filthybliss]

He sure strings nice combos together

Its like the punches just get stronger the more he sequences them together

This Max fight will be fucking NUTS!

If he outboxes Max, I think its fair to say that he is going to have phenomonal career and has legit potential to become the greatest 145lber ever.

 

[Rataria]

If Topuria beats Max, its time for him to move up to 155

 

[r-harper-1]

If Topuria beats Max, its time for him to move up to 155

Lopes first and then move up

 

[Söze Aldo]

He sure strings nice combos together

Its like the punches just get stronger the more he sequences them together

This Max fight will be fucking NUTS!

He's more deserving of the "best boxer in the UFC" claim over Max. Max rarely sets up actual combos, he's more about just putting out pure volume.

 

[Gang Sign Luke]

One of my favorite finishes in recent years. The fight was a banger.

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

I really think this fight is all wrong for Max. I'm well aware I could end up eating my words on this one, but for him to look that good at 155 against Gaethje (he could have gotten almost anyone he wanted at LW)
only to return and make that 145 cut against a prime Ilia for a belt he already had and defended feels like a lose lose unless he just dog walks Topuria.

Roy Jones Jr. came back down to fight Tarver after winning a piece of the HW belt against John Ruiz, and he scraped by AT in the first bout, but then Tarver knocked him out cold in their rematch.

Moving back down when you have plenty of other options just seems extremely risky for Max, he's there to be hit and Ilia has the goods to put him away I believe.

Hope Max and his team are making the right decision but as a fan, I'm nervous I gotta say.

 

[JustBleed69]

I think he's gonna be the one to finish Max

 

[wrb]

I think he's gonna be the one to finish Max

I am nervous for max but I also was when Justin fought him and TBH I have not seen where Ilia is more dangerous than Justin in terms of knockout power and he could not knock out Josh. Max's chin is a real thing but I hope it's not what he uses to win a decision. The weight cut is everything and Ilia also might just take this to the ground and who knows how that will go.

 

[Harlekin]

He's 5'8 and fought still a bit green against a 6'1 kickboxer on two weeks notice at 155.

Topuria can win most fights at 155, but his height and reach will always be a problem there.
His skill level is crazy good, but it just takes a guy as good/slightly less as him, but bigger.

 

[Tweak896]

Topuria can be beat. That said, laying out the rangier fighter isn't the best example. Will be interesting if he strings up enough defenses to take on Islam.

 

[Fergelmince]

Topuria definitely showed he will leave himself open

 

[HNIC215]

Topuria definitely showed he will leave himself open

Everyone leaves themselves open at some point or another. MMA is a game of inches.

Ilia's striking is still faster, stronger and crisper than Max's pitter patter striking.

It will be a good fight for sure, but I think Ilia's striking is a tier above Max.

 

[blaseblase]

There has never been a champion who was able to move up and dominate the fighters in the next highest weight class. They have won the title, but it doesn't last long. Cejudo might have been able to squeeze out a couple more wins but he chose to retire instead.