Over the years, Ilia Topuria (16-0) has become the best boxer in the UFC. And he does not say, nor his team … They argue rivals, analysts and coaches of MMA. Beside him, in a process that began after the triumph against Ryan Hall (in 2021), he has always been Javi Climent. His 'striking' coach, in charge of assuming the blows of the 'Matador' in each of the training.
Ask. The data speak clearly and they say that Ilyia hits much stronger in the light, right?
Answer. I always say the same, that we are all focusing on a blow of Ilia, simply on the glue that can have with a blow … But not only that is the energy he has right now and that he can hold for a long time now, and that allows him to combine with a power and force that is impressive. That I think is what will make the difference the most in this fight. The power that Ilyia has and that speed that no one else has in the light weight, and everyone will be able to see.
The energy he has at this time allows him to combine with a power and force that is impressive
Q. How do you train at Figh Week?
R. The intensity remains high. Now the only thing we have always taken into account is that the athlete is taken care of at all times. But the intensity is the same.
Ilia Topuria, along with Javi Climent in a training.
Q. Didn't they affect them not to know who the opponent would be (Makhachev or Oliveira, ed.) Until the camp well into?
R. No, in the end we already have our 'game plan' designed for a long time. So, simply polishing small things that we can always improve or small details that we can see, but we are very clear about what we are going to do on the 28th inside the octagon. And charles will have it clearer when you find it and look it coming.
We are very clear about what we are going to do on the 28th within the octagon
Q. Everything in order then, isn't it?
R. We have had plenty of time to study Charles, to know what we want to do. There has been no difference with any other camp. We are more than prepared. We know perfectly what we are going to do on the 28th.
We have had plenty of time to study Charles, to know what we want to do
Q. Ilia already said that he is not going to adapt to Oliveira, who will be the other way around …
R. Ilia's case is a unique case because he doesn't get used to anyone. He dictates and carries his fight, imposes his style, so he is a high, delicate, thick person, a striker … He has the ability, the gift of imposing his own style. That is what makes it great. You don't have to adapt. He always imposes the fight.
P. and I do not doubt that it has worked to counteract the strengths of Oliveira. In the end, it is a legend, and it has many … beyond the ground and the Jiu-Jitsu, it can do a lot of damage to the Clinch.
R. Of course we have worked on it, but hey, you have to know that to get to the Clinch you have to go through the long one, through the average and the short distance, right? So it is not something that worries us, obviously clear that it is something that we consider … Charles is a great fighter, he has been champion of this weight, but this time he has had to face us, so, I am very sorry, but we are going to work so that this victory comes from our side. He is a fighter who is not a mobile fighter, it is not that you have to work hard to connect it, but that he will come. So, it is perfect, come to our world and you will see what happens to you.
Charles is a great fighter, he has been champion of this weight, but this time he has had to face us …
The Matador Open Workout in Las Vegas
Q. You have been from June 10 in Las Vegas, Charles arrived last Saturday. They are different ways of approaching combat, right? Although it is true that Oliveira has in his favor that the time difference of Sao Paulo-Las Vegas is not that of Madrid-Las Vegas.
R. Each team has their ways to work. We try to be as professional as possible. We know what I feel good to Ilia, so we join with a pretty good time to be able to acclimatize, to be able to adapt to the schedule and that never plays against us. In the end, everything that depends on our hand that we can do better, because that is what we are going to do. What others do, honestly, I don't care. I don't know, he will know how he will go out to the octagon that day. What interests me is how Ilyia comes out, and I'm sure it will be 100%.
Q. It is true that not many UFC fighters can allow you to spend three weeks before a fight in the location of the same … but you have opted for this work method from the first moment. They were the costs.
R. Totally, totally. In the end, Ilia has always been a person who has invested a lot in her career. So, from the first moment he has been able to, although he had to put aside other things, this has been done and we have always come with a long time. But of course, of course we have more resources and everything we can do and that we are going to do it to reach 100%.
Ilia has always been a person who has invested a lot in her career
Q. What do you think of the comments that say that Ilyia is too small for light weight?
R. That does not matter. And more in a fighter like Ilyia, who knows how to take the game to her land always, who knows how to enter perfectly at the distance she needs, she also knows how to work the long one, and with her speed it is also not necessary to always have to be shortened. He if he wants can work long distance, there is no problem. And well, we have already had to face high people, as maybe it can be the case of Max Holloway, which measured 1.80 … and look how it ended. So, in that sense, it is not a difficulty for us. On the contrary. If it is high or low, it does not matter. Our goal is always the same, which is to finish the fight and lift the hand to Ilia.
We have already had to face high people, as maybe it can be the case of Max Holloway, which measured 1.80 … and see how ends
The matador is already in Las Vegas for UFC 317
P. He has been with Ilia for many years, and has seen his hand lift many times. How was the evolution of Topuria … but also yours as a team?
R. It is something incredible for us. Both Jesus (Gallo, ed.) And we have spoken it many times. From the first moment we started working with him, he was noted a different aura from the rest. Anyone of this world who has worked with him can tell you. He has a champion aura. He is a real champion. That transmits it as soon as you start working. It is something that has always been in our mind. We always knew it was going to arrive. It seems that everything has been very fast, but we live it as a team from within, with tranquility, without the head leaving where you don't have to go.
Q. And now, when they reflect, what do they think?
R. We are living the dream we had always had. We are living it as a team, as friends, as a family that we are. It is incredible to be able to enjoy something like that. I can't tell you anything more than good things. It is a reality. I think it has been an incredible evolution, a much learning process for all. In this process we have all learned. Each camp we learn something else. Each camp we become more professionals in our field. I think not only he, but we also, as a team, have evolved. In every aspect. There is no limit. Perfection is never achieved in this sport. You can always polish a little more.
We are living the dream we had always had
Q. The evolution of Topuria is incredible: from 'background' of Greco -Roman struggle for the best boxer of the UFC.
R. It has been a very good evolution, Ilia is a privileged person. It has the art of this sport inside, and everything that is proposed within this sport will achieve it. It is super meticulous. He wants to try to get perfectly in everything. He is super demanding in training.
Ilia is a privileged person. It has the art of this sport inside
Ilia Topuria hits Max Holloway in UFC 308.
Q. Does that facilitate work?
R. As a coach it is very easy to be able to work with such a person, because it is no longer you who has to demand, but he only demands and judges himself, and tries to tighten. As a athlete he is a professional from head to toe and always wants to improve, he always wants to go more. For each fight we get something new. I am also growing a lot as coach. In the end I think this is like an exchange. Of course I contribute a lot of work, and he also brings me a lot to me. We are improving both and there is the result we are having.
Q. What do you feel when others say that Topuria is the best boxer of the company?
R. I feel super grateful to be the person in charge of that and simply thank the people … but it is not my thought that people say good things, but that the team is happy, that Ilyia is happy, that he continues to grow, that the victories continue to arrive from our side and if people like it, then grateful for it.
As a coach it is very easy to work with such a person
Q. Is it the biggest fight they have faced?
R. Bigger or not … that doesn't matter. The important thing is the fighting fight. It's always the biggest, right? The next one. What has come before or will come after it doesn't matter. This is the one that will mark our destiny. Of course, for me it is the greatest, it is the one that matters to me and it is where I want to take the victory.
