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On a night when martial arts fans around the world were expecting a spectacle, they got just that; an epic clash between Ilia Topuria and the experienced Brazilian Charles Oliveira. After Islam Makhachev decided to leave the lightweight category and seek challenges in the welterweight division, the UFC had to react quickly. They found the solution in these two famous fighters.
One is a former featherweight champion, and the other is a former ruler of the lightweight division. It was clear that only one could emerge as champion.
The fans were impatiently waiting for this match, which has been talked about for a long time.
Brutal end in the first round
The beginning of the fight was intense. The experienced Brazilian opened the match with several low kicks, while the 28-year-old fighter from Spain used boxing. Already in the first minutes, Oliveira hit with a left hook, but earned a cut in the exchange. He attempted a takedown, but ended up in the bottom position on the ground. It didn't bother him - he tried a "leg lock", but Topuria skilfully pulled out and invited him back to his feet.
Midway through the first round, the deciding moment came. Topuria landed a precise left jab, then a right, and then finished the combination with a devastating left hook. Oliveira was already on his way to the floor when he took two more unnecessary blows before the referee stopped the fight.
"I'm a new generation of fighters. I represent something completely new, something that MMA has never seen before. I thank God for this moment," Ilia said after the fight.
He added that he was ready for anyone, and called out Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett. The Englishman even appeared in the cage, which further excited the crowd.
The famous UFC fighter amazed the public with this performance, and there are many who wonder what the future holds for this great wrestler. Topuria has shown that he will pose a serious challenge to everyone in the category, but can anyone dethrone him?
English (US) ·