An announcement can cause an earthquake in a division of the UFC. The ex -champion of the weight and star of the UFC Ilia Topuria reported twenty days ago that he left his title vacant to undertake a new adventure in the light weight, a category in which the Daguestaní Islam Makhachev reigns. Information that was unexpectedly assimilated by numerous stars of the American company, such as Charles OliveiraI already expected to receive a new opportunity for the belt. Now, it seems that Topuria has taken the lead in the ‘Title Shot’ (title shot), but the Brazilian team is still firm in their intention to be those who dispute the title. His coach and manager, Diego Lima, attends ABC MMA to analyze the current situation of his superstar and the division in which he wants to reign again.
-We go to the point. Ilia Topuria has risen to light weight (70 kilos) with the intention of looking for a second belt in the UFC. While your represented, Charles Oliveira, has also won a contender position by winning Michael Chandler. Who do you think will be Oliveira’s next rival?
-It is a very difficult question because everything is in the hands of Islam Makhachev. The future of Charles and Topuria is in his hands, because he spoke on many occasions that he wanted to get into the welter weight (77 kilos), but I think he will not go up to fight Belal Muhammad (current champion) because they are friends and have trained together. If Belal continues as a champion, it will stay in 70 kilos. At the same time, Topuria has not abandoned the title of the pen weight without any commitment, without any advanced negotiation. I think Topuria only goes up to fight for the belt with a good negotiation. Topuria manager must have something pending with the UFC, everything is around Makhachev. If Belal did not win the May fight, there it would have a possibility of climbing category and we would have Topuria and Charles. But if Belal wins, it would stay in the light and it would be necessary to do with UFC who it would be if Topuria or Charles, because it depends two factories: the UFC and Makhachev himself. It is something complicated.
-There is an interesting statements of Malki Kawa, the agent of Topuria, who point out that they were not going to leave the pen belt without having something advanced, that they have not told them that they will not fight for the title. After the last message that Topuria launched ensuring that I already had something very big, I just have to think that it will fight directly through the belt.
-The truth I don’t know, it can be, but Makhachev still doesn’t know if he stays or rises category. I think everything is really around his decision. This fight will happen at the International Figh Week, which will be giant, I think Makhachev, Topuria and Charles must fight there. But he knows in this triangle who against whom it will be something more complicated. We care about our belt, we want that belt. We do not choose the opponent, but we want the belt. Charles would also love the BMF title that Max Holloway has, it is a new belt, a new challenge, a giant fight against someone very big that has history. We are in negotiations for that.
-It is very curious to know how these negotiations occur.
-We have very good relationship with Hunter Campbell (director of OFC operations) and Sean Shelby (lightweight matchmaker), are very good people, treat us very well and we love each other very much. We already did good negotiations. I am offering ideas, the fights that Charles would like and they respond to us. There are many things. We work to tell you what is very good for us, but so will those of Topuria and Makhachev. There they, along with Dana White, see the fight that is more interesting for the event, the ones that will sell and move the world of fighting.
-The last conversation you had with them, what feeling left you? Did you think it was a real possibility to fight for the belt in the next fight of Charles Oliveira?
-The truth is yes. The last meeting was ten days ago and they told me that they were watching things, that they were pending some negotiations, but they wanted something very big for Charles Oliveira, because he is a person who is very big and sells a lot, moves many millions. Today, Charles can’t travel alone, they stop him around the world. He can’t walk alone. Thank God, a very strong man has become a lot, and the UFC knows that he is a star and wants to treat her well to continue shining and bring economic results for the company. They told us that they still could not tell us anything, that we were going to make a new meeting in London and surely good things will come out. We have always had good negotiations.
-All the date of the next fight: Is the International Fight Week a good date for Charles? It would be June 28 at UFC 317.
-It’s perfect, it’s what he wants. He wants to fight twice this year. Fighting on June 28 would have room to fight again at the end of the year.
-In the case that the doors of fighting for the light weight of the UFC and the BMF are closed, do you consider making a fighting fight in the light weight, for example before Arman Tsarukyan or Justin Gaethje?
-Don’t know. I would have to sit with Charles. Because we could sit down to wait to fight for the belt. But on the other hand, Charles needs to fight. One thing is to train and another fight, you need to always be active and a fight per year is little. Charles is a different champion, he never fought not to lose, he always fought to win and that is a very big difference. His fights are very exciting, he always looks for knockout and is exposed more. He told me that he wants to fight in June, but if we don’t have the BMF or the title I would not know if we would fight … maybe Gaethje, who has made a great fight and sells a lot or a new fight for Dustin Poirier who sells a lot. Charles must fight with fighters who are already big, who move a lot, is the most important. But our focus is the belt.
-Well, Charles is for big fights. We know that Charles, who is already 35 years old, was a natural pen weight, which rose to light weight. Have you considered the possibility of getting into the welter weight?
-For age, no. Give the weight very quiet. You just have to get off 80 kilos. But if we have something giant, a great opportunity and Charles tells me that he would love why not. But right now it is not in our plans.
-Let let’s go back. In case you finally face Islam Makhachev. How do you see that fight?
-It will be a very good fight, the two fighters are incredible. I accompany Makhachev more because it is very complete, it is one of the best in the world, it is very technical, aggressive, intelligent and dedicated, in addition to being giant. And Topuria is accompanied as a fan of MMA, I love it, he is a fighter who always looks for the ko, moves very well, his fighting style I love, I like to see him. It will be very good. I think Makhachev will try to take it to the ground, Topuria has very dangerous hands and I think the Russian will want to put his back on the floor. At the same time, if Topuria moves well you can search the knockout.
-One of your pupils, Elves Brener, fought with Joel Álvarez and was defeated last year. What opinion do you have of the Asturian fighter?
-It’s a very good fighter, he has very good wingspan, moves very well and has a great notion of distance. He is a giant fighter, he has everything to make great fights and enter the top 5 to look for the belt. If you manage to do 70 kilos, you should stay there. If you rise to 77 kilos, they are already fighters more than their size and have many differences. But regardless of the category, everything has it to enter the Top 5.
-By the way, we will soon have you in Madrid, because another of your students, Gustavo Gabriel, will fight at the Wow 17 at Madrid Arena.
-I have a lot of family in Spain and they are all crazy because we are going to find ourselves. Most live in Barcelona and they already bought the tickets for Madrid to go an event. I really want.
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