Charles Oliveira can defeat Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 this weekend in Las Vegas.
But in order to reclaim the vacant lightweight crown, “Do Bronxs” has to commit to getting inside — or staying outside. What the Brazilian can’t do, according to former opponent Dustin Poirier, is get stuck somewhere in the middle, where Topuria can uncork the boxing that led him to 16 straight wins in MMA.
“I think Charles needs to fight Ilia the same way he fought me,” Poirier told Mike Bohn. “He was all the way in, or he was all the way out. He never really fought me at that boxing range. If he was in, it was clinch work, body locks, a lot of energy, but he smothered my boxing. Or he was at kicking range, using those long front kicks. He’s a long, rangy guy. He needs to be all the way in or the all the way out. He cannot play the boxing, pocket game. He needs to be clinching. He doesn’t need to be exchanging shots in the pocket with a shorter guy who can crack.”
Oliveira finished Poirier by submission at UFC 269 back in late 2021.
“I think Ilia does have good takedown defense, and Charles even being big, I was able to stop a lot of his shots against the fence and make him go back to the body lock,” Poirier continued. “He eventually got underneath me and got around to my back, and jumped on my back like a JanSport. So, if he can close the distance and get into that clinch work with Ilia, instead of boxing there or trying to dirty boxing, holding one tie, I think he needs to use that body lock, try to get behind him. If he can close the distance and get a hold of Ilia’s body being the longer guy, maybe he can creep around to the back. I mean, Charles could finish anybody if he gets their back.”
Just ask Justin Gaethje.
The winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira is likely to move forward and defend the 155-pound strap against No. 1-ranked contender (and UFC 317 backup) Arman Tsarukyan at some point later this year. Unless something unexpected happens in this fight, forcing Islam Makhachev to make his return to the lightweight division.
To see who else is fighting at UFC 317 this weekend in Las Vegas click here.
