Javier Mendez thinks Ilia Topuria will do just fine in his return to lightweight.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) takes on Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant 155-pound championship in Saturday’s UFC 317 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although former UFC featherweight champion Topuria will be at a three-inch height disadvantage and a five-inch reach disadvantage, Mendez sees him overpowering Oliveira.
“I think we’re all missing one key point,” Mendez said in an interview with “Genting Casino.” Topuria was having a heck of a time making weight at 145, that’s why he’s gone up. Because the weight’s killing him. He’s not tall in stature, but he’s wide. He’s almost like (Alexander) Volkanovski, so those guys carry a lot of weight for their size. So yeah, the weight is not going to be the issue. He might even be stronger than Charles.”
Prior to Islam Makhachev vacating his UFC lightweight belt, Mendez said beating Oliveira would make Topuria a true lightweight. The American Kickboxing Academy head coach thinks that will likely happen.
“I want Charles to win, but I think Topuria might just edge him out,” Mendez said. “But I’m not going to be shocked if Charles gets a shocking win because he’s capable of doing that.”
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