Maddalena's coach: Topuria is a midget, should stay in his lane

[NextGen]

“He needs to stay where he is. It will be a very bad decision for him to come up and fight Jack. They’re the same fighter, essentially – he’s just a midget and Jack’s a bit bigger. They do a lot of the same things very well, and I love Ilia. He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch because I think he fights like Jack.

“They’re very similar, but I don’t think he has any business jumping up two weight classes and fighting Jack. But that’s up to him. If he wants to do that, fair play to him."

Jack Della Maddalena's coach warns 'midget' Ilia Topuria of welterweight move

Jack Della Maddalena's coach thinks Ilia Topuria moving up to 170 pounds would be a bad idea.

mmajunkie.usatoday.com

 

[Subline]

It seems like coaches do more trash talking than their fighters these days

 

[Gabe]

He won’t have to worry Islam will squash Jack before any talks of that.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

“He needs to stay where he is. It will be a very bad decision for him to come up and fight Jack. They’re the same fighter, essentially – he’s just a midget and Jack’s a bit bigger. They do a lot of the same things very well, and I love Ilia. He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch because I think he fights like Jack.

“They’re very similar, but I don’t think he has any business jumping up two weight classes and fighting Jack. But that’s up to him. If he wants to do that, fair play to him."

Jack Della Maddalena's coach warns 'midget' Ilia Topuria of welterweight move

Jack Della Maddalena's coach thinks Ilia Topuria moving up to 170 pounds would be a bad idea.

mmajunkie.usatoday.com

Jack is only 5'11''. That's a midget by Sherdog standard

 

[The Clark]

"He's just a midget, and Jack's a bit bigger."
A bit? He's a bit bigger than a midget? Way to bury your fighter, lol.

 

[fortheo]

It seems like coaches do more trash talking than their fighters these days

Someone needs to get fans talking. Fighters suck at selling themselves.

Not saying I'm a fan of the coaches talking, but really, fighters suck at selling fights. The promotion needs to step up and start, you know, promoting.

 

[linvillegorge]

Topuria is definitely the higher level striker but JDM is definitely a lot bigger. Definitely not sure that fight goes well for Topuria but I'm not as confident in that as his coach is

 

[Chagaev]

The coach has spoken. Go back to fighting guys like Olive&Justin, midget.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

I remember when fighters were going to get beaten into living death

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Islam finna face crank JDM nose back to normal…

 

[Rhood]

When did he say he was moving up?

 

[Aurelian]

Someone needs to get fans talking. Fighters suck at selling themselves.

Not saying I'm a fan of the coaches talking, but really, fighters suck at selling fights. The promotion needs to step up and start, you know, promoting.

This isn't even selling a fight. What's the purpose of shit talking Ilia at this point?

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Homie just went straight into the manlet shaming.

Sounds like he's been reading sherdog.

 

[octagonation]

This guy is competing with Morne Visser.. Hahaha" by the way I love Morne Visser and I find him to be hilarious at times

 

[El Fernas]

Fighters shouldnt "trash talk" others on their size, its DUMB, worst coming from a coach.

 

[TheNewGame]

His head coach was an 0-2 Bantamweight

 

[rjmbrd]

"He's just a midget, and Jack's a bit bigger."
A bit? He's a bit bigger than a midget? Way to bury your fighter, lol.

You're running into colloquial use of language here.

Also related - the title of the thread comes off a bit bombastic, but in context JDM's coach is giving Ilia flowers. He literally says Topuria is one of his favorite fighters to watch.

All that being said, dude is right. Serious brain damage awaits Topuria at 170lbs. There is absolutely no reason to get in in the head by humans that much larger than you.

 

[fortheo]

This isn't even selling a fight. What's the purpose of shit talking Ilia at this point?

I don't think he's intentionally trying to sell a fight. I think he's just giving his honest opinion, BUT It's got people talking more about the potential fight between the two, doesn't it? I personally never even entertained this match up before, and now all the sudden because of this comment by Jack's coach, I've seen thousands of people discussing this hypothetical match up.

 

[Aurelian]

It's got people talking more about the potential fight between the two, doesn't it? I personally never even entertained this match up before, and now all the sudden because of this comment by Jack's coach, I've seen thousands of people discussing this hypothetical match up.

It's just planting seeds for the idea of a potential fight down the line if it actually does happen for whatever reason.

You were right to never even entertain this fight. It's never going to happen. Ilia is way too small to compete at WW unless it's a one off WW title fight.

Then for the UFC, Jack vs Ilia probably isn't anything they are interested in. Assuming Jack beats Islam they will have other plans for him and Ilia both.

 

[fortheo]

You were right to never even entertain this fight. It's never going to happen. Ilia is way too small to compete at WW unless it's a one off WW title fight.

Then for the UFC, Jack vs Ilia probably isn't anything they are interested in. Assuming Jack beats Islam they will have other plans for him and Ilia both.

Yeah I know, but just having fans talk about you in any fight is a good thing for these guys. That's what I was getting at. It feels like a lot of fighters just don't get fans talking these days, so while I'm not particularly a fan of coaches saying too much, at least it gets people talking a bit.