Robert Whittaker: Charles Oliveira kommer inte kunna stå emot Ilia Topuria

UFC-mellanviktaren Robert Whittaker har analyserat den uppkommande lättviktstitelmatchen mellan Charles Oliveira och Ilia Topuria. Enligt Whittaker, kommer brasilianaren få det svårt att undvika Topurias attacker.

Robert Whittaker förutspår tuff titelmatch för Charles Oliveira

Många prominenta personer inom UFC har uttalat sig om den titelmatch i lättvikt som äger rum under helgens gala i Las Vegas, UFC 317. Bland dem finner man allt från rankade fajters till tidigare mästare i organisationen. Mellanviktaren och forne titelhållaren Robert ”The Reaper” Whittaker (26-8) tror att det kommer bli en tuff match mellan Charles ”do Bronxs” Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) och Ilia ”El Matador” Topuria (16-0). Dock ser han Topuria som favoriten tack vare spanjorens effektiva boxning.

För bra boxning

I en intervju nyligen förklarar Robert Whittaker hur Ilia Topuria kan komma att besegra Charles Oliveira under UFC 317. ”The Reaper” pekar ut Topurias boxning och vilja att ge sig in i tuffa slagutväxklingar som en väg till lättviktsbältet.

Ilia is a weapon. What he did to Alexander Volkanovski and what he did to Max Holloway, two of the best featherweights, Volk being the best featherweight to have ever done it, he starched two legends of the sport. That is unreal. Ilia’s skill set is ridiculous.

Charles is phenomenal, as well. He’s super dangerous off his back. Ilia has the grappling to do it. Charles standing, very textbook. but gets hit a lot. Ilia loves scrapping, loves moving on the inside, loves slipping punches to land punches. He’s so good at dirty boxing. I just don’t see where Charles wins this fight against Ilia.

Alla håller dock inte med Whittaker i hans analys. Max ”Blessed” Holloway (26-8), som har mött Topuria i oktogonen, har en annan bild av kampen. Han tror att det blir en mycket jämn match och vågar inte ge ett uttalande om vem som kommer stå som segraren vid bataljens ände.

If Ilia gets a finish or a knockout, it wouldn’t surprise me. If Charles wins with a submission or even a knockout finish of his own, it doesn’t surprise me. This fight is super up in the air. A lot of people are counting Charles Oliveira out, but he just thrives on being the underdog.

How many times have we counted this man and he somehow found a way to win? From my perspective, this fight is going to be decided in the first three or four minutes of the first round. Oliveira is going to get touched. Is Ilia going to touch him with something that puts him out cold or is going to hurt him, and then Oliveira somehow finds a way to fight back?

That’s the main thing with this fight. If I was a betting man, on this fight, and Charles Oliveira is the underdog, I mean, Charles Oliveira is one of the best fighters in the world as an underdog. That’s all I’m saying. I’m not really picking a winner here. This fight should be super fun.