Prediction thread Charles vs Ilia

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

How do we see this fight going?

I’m a Charles fan but I think Charles is getting knocked out, I’ve seen enough footage of Ilia being decent on the ground, and with how many times Charles has been knockdown or caught on the feet leading to a submission or KO I just feel like Ilia’s gonna defend the takedowns and land the kill shot on the feet, I’d love to say Charles is too heavy and Charles will easily lay on him and get the sub but I just don’t see it

Plus I’ve seen a lot of people say there’s no guarantee that Ilia’s power is gonna translate to 155 I think it will we’ve seen enough fighters do well moving up too know that Ilia’s likely gonna keep his power

 

[Harlekin]

Poirier knocked Oliveira down 3 times and hurt him 3 more times landing 60 punches in the first round. Ilia is an even better boxer, but smaller.

This of course will be a problem for Charles.

Charles has height and reach working for him.
A lot of calf kicks and frontkicks to keep the distance and knees and ellbows when Ilia gets close.
Ilia likes to dip, so these are good weapons.
-Tie him up clinching.
-Prevent boxing range.
Go to the ground and fence to take away Ilia's power.

Charles is 35 now and had a lot of fights. Probably a bit past his prime.
Looked good vs. Chandler, but maybe that's because Chandler is even older and past prime.

If size won't be a problem and Oliveira doesn't get lucky.
Ilia knocks him down/out with superior boxing.

Charles will have his chance on the back once more, but Ilia's ground game is good.
Size again being a problem.

For a better prediction I would need to see Oliveira vs Arman again.
But it was a bit of a boring fight and Arman is as short as Ilia with way worse boxing.

Considering that, yeah Ilia knocks him out before the 4th, probably earlier.

 

[Skarsgard]

Charles gets hurt, Arman steps in, and Ilia backs out.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Ilia ko round 2

 

[MMAFanCal]

I am torn between the two. Biggest fan of both of these guys. I want Charles to be a champion again before he retires. That is why I did not want this fight to happen, but I can see it going only one way.

Illia via KO/TKO round 3 or round 4.

 

[flektarn]

OLIVEIRA
REAR NAKED CHOKE
BELIEVE IT

Spoiler

 

[Dimbis]

I think Ilia follows him to the ground after a knockdown and pulls off a sub like Islam.

 

[Evbo]

I just can't see any other result than Olives getting knocked down and finished by GnP or Sub. 1st or 2nd round.

I love Charles and really hope he wins, but Ilia seems to be something of an unstoppable force. I know it was at FW but what he did to Max cemented it for me

 

[El Fernas]

Topuria R2 KO/TKO.

Im not that confident in him at LW tho, but Oliveira isnt a master at defending and is up there in age and wear, i can also see Oliveira winning by Sub in the early rounds just the same.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Charles is a fun fighter to watch and I like him, but I just feel like he is way too open and his defense is not there in the striking or the ground, Topuria TKO round 2.

The best area for Charles would be if he can get a thai clinch and hit Topuria with knees, Charles is really good at knees, its one of his best weapons, and knee Topuria right in the gut like Bo/Ridder, but outside of that I think he will lose everywhere else the fight goes, including the ground.

 

[14 division]

Oliveria wins decision 48-47

Oliv will try to establish respect in the striking early. I believe his diverse strikes and defense + incorporating takedowns post Islam/arman fight, will have Oliveria hold his own. Topuria has the combos and power, but Oliveria can neutralize this like he did to Poirier. A lot of clinch, wrestling, and long range attacks is perfect against Ilia, to at least break him down cardio-wise. Oliv might have to keep the fight boring by being grapple heavy to ensure success. Volk and Holloway are great standing up but they did not utilize the clinch and wrestling threats. They played to Topuria strength.

 

[Pierce 34]

The champ has a name

 

[Kratos94]

Topuria by 2nd round knockout.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Charles gets hurt, Arman steps in, and Ilia backs out.

Al Iaquinta steps in on short notice.

My initial gut is that Ilia takes it under three rounds, Chucky is too hittable, however I won't be surprised if he headkicks Topturo to Bolivia en route to following him down for a sub.
One thing is for sure, I don't think the two of these guys can be in a boring fight together.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

It will be interesting to see if Topurias power transfers up to LW. If so, he likely sparks Charles out.

If Charles can take his shots, land his own and get this in grappling range, then he may get the stoppage.

Hard for me to concretely call this one.

 

[Skarsgard]

Al Iaquinta steps in on short notice.

My initial gut is that Ilia takes it under three rounds, Chucky is too hittable, however I won't be surprised if he headkicks Topturo to Bolivia en route to following him down for a sub.
One thing is for sure, I don't think the two of these guys can be in a boring fight together.

Ilia is a very, very overconfident fighter. He's talented, but not as talented as he believes he is. Yeah, Charles is hittable, but so is Ilia. The only other time we've seen him at 155, we saw Ilia in a pretty bad way against a much lower level opponent. I could see it going either way. My gut says Charles via KO though.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Ilia is a very, very overconfident fighter. He's talented, but not as talented as he believes he is. Yeah, Charles is hittable, but so is Ilia. The only other time we've seen him at 155, we saw Ilia in a pretty bad way against a much lower level opponent. I could see it going either way. My gut says Charles via KO though.

Yea that's specifically why I mention the headkick, I think Ilia is the perfect height for them, provably so and hope Charles' camp thinks the same

 

[xhaydenx]

My prediction is that the GOAT formerly known as La Leyenda will be bouncing Charles's head off the canvas within 2 rounds.

Islam will be watching from the bathtub, and thanking his gods that he scurried away to WW.

 

[LincolnHawk1]

Topuria ko round 2. First round they feel each other out and I think olivera will make the mistake to stand for too long with topuria and that will be his downfall. 2nd round at some point topurias fast hands come into play and he catches olives with a combo and sits him down. A follow up punch or two and ref is waving it off. Charles struggles to get up to sit on the stool.

 

[bng]

has a feeling that Torpedo gonna get a confident win while Charlie having one heated moment with submission attempt