Tag: ilia topuria

Morocco’s Youssef Zalal Aiming for Revenge Against Ilia Topuria “There’s a whole story behind this.”

Morocco's Youssef Zalal Aiming for Revenge Against Ilia Topuria "There's a whole story behind this."Morocco’s Youssef Zalal is eyeing a rematch with UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, determined to rewrite the story of…

Morocco's Youssef Zalal Aiming for Revenge Against Ilia Topuria "There's a whole story behind this."

Morocco’s Youssef Zalal is eyeing a rematch with UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, determined to rewrite the story of their first encounter.

Youssef Zalal Wants Ilia Topuria Rematch

Youssef Zalal first faced Topuria on October 11, 2020, and lost the fight by unanimous decision in a hard-fought three rounds. Topuria’s grappling was dominant, and the victory helped the Georgian-Spanish fighter climb the ranks to eventually secure the UFC Featherweight Championship in February 2024.

Youssef Zalal vs. Ilia Topuria

Reflecting on the potential future fight against Ilia Topuria, Zalal said, “Oh, bro, why not? It’s a whole story, bro. Like, the storyline is right there. You talk about promotion—that’s like a big promotion right there. It’s like you fought the guy in his UFC debut. He’s your only decision, and you’re both coming up. He got kicked out and came back, so there’s a whole story behind this. So, 100%.”

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Zalal’s journey to this potential rematch has been marked by perseverance. After a brief stint outside the UFC, due to struggling inside the organization, he returned stronger. In his second UFC run, he earned Performance of the Night bonuses and captured the attention of fans and analysts. The loss to Topuria remains a motivating factor in Zalal’s career.

As for Topuria, the undefeated fighter has seen his incredible rise in the sport. For Zalal, the opportunity to face Topuria again represents a chance to settle unfinished business and prove how far he’s come since their initial meeting. Youssef Zalal is currently on an impressive six-fight win streak and just submitted Jack Shore in the UFC.

Undefeated, All Finishes “F*ing Great, Thank You” Youssef Zalal Reaction to Facing Ilia Topuria On Short Notice

Undefeated, All Finishes "F*ing Great, Thank You" Youssef Zalal Reaction to Facing Ilia Topuria On Short Notice UFCMorocco’s Youssef Zalal faced a pivotal moment in his career during his UFC journey. In 2020, Zalal found himself…

Undefeated, All Finishes "F*ing Great, Thank You" Youssef Zalal Reaction to Facing Ilia Topuria On Short Notice UFC

Morocco’s Youssef Zalal faced a pivotal moment in his career during his UFC journey. In 2020, Zalal found himself up against an undefeated force, Ilia Topuria, under challenging circumstances. When Zalal’s original opponent pulled out just days before the bout, he had to quickly adapt.

Youssef Zalal vs. Ilia Topuria

“I’m in Abu Dhabi, I land, and I get a call. They’re like, ‘Yeah, your opponent pulled out,’” Zalal recalls. “I say, ‘What the fck do you mean my opponent pulled out? I’m fcking seven days away from the fight.’” The shock didn’t end there.

“They’re like, ‘Yeah, but we got you this guy,’” Zalal continues, “I said, ‘Okay, what’s his record?’ ‘Fcking 8-0 or 9-0 or some sht like that. All finishes, never seen a decision.’ And I said, ‘F*cking great. Thank you. Like, this is awesome, bro.’”

Zalal’s new opponent, Ilia Topuria, was an undefeated juggernaut. The challenge of facing someone on such short notice didn’t deter Zalal. Instead, he took the opportunity in stride.

“I go in and fight this guy, and I was like, first round, they said he’s a grappler,” Zalal explained. “And I was like, ‘Okay.’ I didn’t know this f*cker was a Greco-wrestler. That’s the only highlight you see of him—ever tossing my ass.”

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Despite the sudden adjustment, Zalal faced Topuria with resilience, but the fight saw Ilia Topuria’s grappling power earn the W. The bout went the full three rounds, with Topuria’s control on the ground proving too much for Zalal to overcome, and Topuria secured the unanimous decision victory.

Topuria’s success in the division, culminating in his February 2024 UFC Featherweight Championship win against Alexander Volkanovski, has only highlighted the significance of their encounter, as both fighters’ careers have continued to rise.

Ilia Topuria

Zalal’s experience against Topuria in 2020 has proven invaluable in his development. The fight may have ended in a loss for Zalal, but it propelled him towards future success. He is now on a six-fight win streak with his most victory being a submission win against Jack Shore.

Dan Hooker Doubts Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claims: ‘He’s Just Working Off McGregor’s Playbook’

While Ilia Topuria and his team have teased a move up to lightweight, it appears not everyone believes that the UFC featherweight champion will make such a jump. During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, teased that Topuria is looking at a move up to lightweight, even if it means leaving […]

While Ilia Topuria and his team have teased a move up to lightweight, it appears not everyone believes that the UFC featherweight champion will make such a jump.

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, teased that Topuria is looking at a move up to lightweight, even if it means leaving the UFC flyweight title he won just 10 months ago behind.

The expectation had been that Topuria would have a rematch with the man he took the belt from, Alexander Volkanovski, at some point in 2025. But “El Matador” caused a stir during a radio appearance in Spain when he suggested he’s competed at 145 pounds for the last time.

One key lightweight contender, Dan Hooker, thinks that talk from Topuria and his camp is just that — talk.

Dan Hooker Doesn’t Believe Ilia Topuria Will Make Jump To Lightweight

During his own recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker described Topuria’s remarks as “classic s***” that stems from McGregor’s own playbook from 2015-16.

“It’s pretty evident that he’s just working off the line one from McGregor’s playbook, which is keeping your name in the headlines,” Hooker said. “So, all I kind of see from it is that Ilia Topuria is keeping his name in the headlines — like the guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk next year.”

Topuria won the featherweight title by knocking out Volkanovski at UFC 298. He then successfully retained the title at UFC 308, becoming the first man to knock out former champion Max Holloway.

It should be noted the featherweight division is not cleaned out, with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evolev each making their claims of late for a potential title shot down the line.

Hooker, meanwhile, won his third straight fight at UFC 305 in August, defeating Mateusz Gamrot in an entertaining upset.

Ilia Topuria On Conor McGregor Dismissing Fight Rumors: ‘I Don’t Fight Nor Am I Interested In Fighting With A Rapist’

In a recent social media post, Conor McGregor outlined plans for the future of his career in combat sports. “The Notorious” claims that he is in “preliminary agreements” for a return to the boxing ring against Logan Paul in India. Once that is settled, he will turn his attention back towards making a long awaited […]

In a recent social media post, Conor McGregor outlined plans for the future of his career in combat sports. “The Notorious” claims that he is in “preliminary agreements” for a return to the boxing ring against Logan Paul in India. Once that is settled, he will turn his attention back towards making a long awaited return to the UFC.

McGregor also stated in the post that there is no truth to any rumors of him coming back to face off with the promotion’s current featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria.

“El Matador” is a huge star, but while the fight might make sense in terms of how big it would be following the comments exchanged by the two men, it doesn’t appear to be a realistic option for either right now.

Following the clarification from the often cryptic McGregor on X, Topuria has provided his own response to “The Notorious.”

Posting several hours later on his own X account, the 145-pound king posted a scathing message aimed at the Dublin native, which suggests that even if the fight was on the table, he wouldn’t be interested in it.

Topuria’s post makes reference to the recent verdict of McGregor’s civil case, where he was found liable of assault after being accused of raping Nikita Hand.

“The rumors of bout with mchicken are false. I don’t fight nor am I interested in fighting with a rapist,” Topuria wrote.

Topuria has recently declared that he intends on moving up to lightweight in the near future but doesn’t plan on vacating the featherweight title in order to do so.

McGregor, meanwhile, recently posted the following statement on X after being threatened with contempt of court over the comments he shared on social media relating to the verdict of the case.

UFC Tampa Winner Confident Of His Chances Against Ilia Topuria: ‘Carries Himself Like He’s Better Than He Is’

UFC featherweight Sean Woodson sees himself as a difficult matchup for champion Ilia Topuria. Woodson was one of the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, where he stopped the highly touted Fernando Padilla with strikes seconds out from the first round coming to a close. The result […]

UFC featherweight Sean Woodson sees himself as a difficult matchup for champion Ilia Topuria.

Woodson was one of the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, where he stopped the highly touted Fernando Padilla with strikes seconds out from the first round coming to a close.

The result has left “The Sniper” riding a four-fight win streak and unbeaten across his last seven — a run that has him tied with ranked standouts Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy for the longest active unbeaten streak in the featherweight division.

With that in mind, Woodson is looking to join them in the top 15 soon enough as he looks to surge all the way to the gold, which is currently held by the undefeated Topuria.

And should “El Matador” still be on the throne when he gets there, the Missouri native likes his chances.

During his post-fight press conference, Woodson expressed confidence when it comes to how he matches up against the Spaniard.

Given his height and frame, “The Sniper” insisted that he wouldn’t fall to the same fate against Topuria as both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway did this year.

“(Topuria’s) super good – what he’s done so far is,” Woodson said. “But I’m not going to hold my tongue at all. I don’t feel like he’d be able to do me the way he’s done other people at all. He’s too small, too short. I’m a bad matchup for him. I saw online somebody say he gets up to like 187 (pounds), 190 (outside of camp). I don’t believe that at all. I don’t even get that big. He carries himself like he’s better than he is.

“I will say that I would love to fight him. I know I’m a long ways off from that, but I want that fight bad. I would love to fight him one day. I know it sounds crazy. I haven’t had the best (résumé). I ain’t fought (big names), whatever,” Woodson continued. “But I’m telling you right now, they do not do me like he’s done everybody.”

Woodson has plenty of work to do before having the opportunity to prove that assessment correct opposite Topuria inside the Octagon.

For now, he’ll be celebrating his latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage and looking ahead to what he’ll no doubt hope will be a big 2025 in the career of “The Sniper.”

Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024. Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back […]

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

“Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

“Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Ji?í Procházka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.