Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight division to battle for the lightweight belt, and the fighter is about to get his wish as he gears up to face Charles Oliveira.
Prior to the fight, the two have had a longstanding rivalry, and with lightweight champ Islam Makhachev vacating the title, they will finally get their time in the octagon.
Following preparations for the fight, Oliveira released a bold prediction on what’s to come in an interview with Full Violence.
“It’s a great fight, he’s a great fighter, but I don’t need to prove anything to anyone about who I am,” Oliveira said. “This fight came at a huge opportunity. I will knock out this guy. That’s for real.”
Oliveira and Topuria are two of the UFC’s biggest stars, and their International Fight Week clash is one of the biggest fights of the year.
While Oliveira is best known for his grappling, he has evolved into a technical and powerful striker on the feet. In addition to his many submissions, he holds 10 wins by knockout or TKO. That includes stoppages of Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, and Jared Gordon. So, while it may be unlikely, Oliveira does have the ability to knock Topuria out.
On the other hand, Topuria is the former UFC featherweight champ. He is undefeated and recently knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway before vacating his belt and moving up to lightweight.
