Outside Source
Ilia Topuria (16-0) and Charles Oliveira (35-10) will fight for the vacant lightweight title in the main event at UFC 317 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Having trained with Topuria in the past, Masvidal has high praise for the former featherweight champ. Masvidal recalls training with Topuria while at his peak in the UFC’s welterweight division. Although “El Matador” was respectfully controlling his power, Masvidal could even feel the shots that he was blocking. After their very first training session, “Gamebred” told Topuria that he would likely be a UFC champion one day. Masvidal believes Topuria will beat Oliveira to win his second title on Saturday.
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“I have always said Topuria will be a world champion,” Masvidal told Red Corner MMA. “At the time I’m No.3, No.2 in the world at 170 [pounds] and me and Ilia are working out, he was always very respectful. Never throwing his hardest but I could just feel. I would block the shots, boom boom, and I told him after, first time we train together I go, ‘Brother, God willing, you’ll be champion.’
Masvidal: Ilia Topuira is ‘One Out of 10,000’
“Because Ilia is one out of 10,000. I have trained with everybody, this guy is special. And I think he’s gonna be a world champion at 155 [pounds]. He’s gonna beat Charles man… Charles is bigger. Charles has knees, kicks, elbows, great jiu jitsu, good wrestling. Everywhere Charles is good, but Ilia is just different, brother. This guy is special.”
Topuria has finished 14 of his 16 career wins, including a featherweight title win over Alexander Volkanovski, followed by a defense against Max Holloway.
“I’ve trained with Ilia, he’s one out of 10,000”:
Jorge Masvidal breaks down #UFC317 main event as Ilia Topuria makes his debut in the lightweight division against the former champ Charles Oliveira.Follow Red Corner MMA for more exclusive content ✅ pic.twitter.com/DYagFzzMVM
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 23, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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