UFC featherweight prospect Ilia Topuria knows exactly what he’s getting into for his next trip to the octagon.
Topuria meets the biggest challenge of his young career when he takes on “The Ultimate Fighter 22” winner Ryan Hall on Saturday at UFC 264 in a preliminary bout. Topuria (10-0, 2-0) knows Hall (8-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) presents a vastly different challenge than most fighters he’ll come across, and that’s why he’s prepared for a different kind of matchup.
“I won’t lie to you: I didn’t do a preparation or camp for a tough opponent,” Topuria told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “It was more of a strategic camp. We’ve prepared more for a chess match because it’s going to be a very strategic fight where I’ll need to have a lot of patience.
“I can’t lose my concentration and deviate from what we have planned because he’ll immediately dive for your legs, and we know what he’s going to do. He’s not going to surprise us. So we just need to be patient and light him up when we get a chance. I’m looking for his jaw on the ground, on the feet, wherever. I want to knock him out.”
And although there’s a game plan in place, Topuria is in no way intimidated by Hall’s grappling skills. The 24-year-old is confident he can solve the puzzle against Hall and become the first person top stop him in MMA.
“I have no respect for him in any area – on the feet, on the ground, anywhere,” Topuria said. “Since I was little I’ve been grappling. I train with 30 black belts. Nothing that he’s going to do will surprise me. And finishing him, that wouldn’t surprise me either.
“If I stop him my reaction will be normal; it’s not going to be like, ‘Wow, I just finished a legend of MMA.’ He’s a man of flesh and bone who can be hurt just like anyone. So I won’t be surprised if I finish him. In fact, it’s in the possibilities of the game plan.”
Two fights into his UFC career, Topuria is hoping a third win over a well known name like Hall will get him ranked at 145 pounds. Although just 24, Topuria wants a quick rise to the title, as he feels he’s already the best in the world.
“If they call me right now and tell me Ryan Hall is out and I need to fight Volkanovski – and this is me being humble – I don’t think he can go the distance,” Topuria said. “And that’s what I think. I’m not going to say nice things just to please people. I know I’m the best in the world, and I just need time to prove it and show everyone. If this Saturday I were to fight Volkanovski, I’d put him to sleep.”