Morning Report | Jean Silva certain he can mimic Ilia Topuria for Charles Oliveira camp: ‘I can do everything he does’

Charles Oliveira might have a not-so-secret weapon to utilize against Ilia Topuria.

Top featherweight Jean Silva has volunteered his services to help Oliveira prepare for his upcoming fight with Topuria for the vacant lightweight title, which takes place at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas. Topuria vacated his featherweight title this past February to chase two-division champion status, leaving contenders like Silva behind, though “Lord” may have found a way to spoil Topuria’s plans after all.

On his YouTube channel, Silva explained how he plans to perfectly imitate Topuria’s style if called upon to aid Oliveira.

“I did better than you,” Silva said (translation via MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz), speaking of Topuria. “Topuria fought Bryce Mitchell and it was a fight. He got hit, he got dizzy. He got knocked down already in the UFC, but I haven’t. How long did my fight last against Bryce Mitchell? How many hands did he land? [Topuria’s] fights, even the ones he won by knockout, how long did they last? In a way, there was a fight between him and his opponents. Myself and my opponents, honestly, there was no fight. Not because they suck, but because I study a lot.

“And if he wants to know where did I get that from, why I say I can mimic him, it’s from his fights. Not talking crap, I know he’s very successful, but that’s called copying what works and adapting. I’m doing that with Topuria. So yes, I can do everything he does.”

Silva went into great detail pointing out Topuria’s weaknesses, specifically how the explosive striking style of “El Matador” can also leave him open to counters and put him in disadvantageous positions.

“I know he walks and hides his back foot to throw the straight or cross,” Silva said. “I know he has powerful hips, but when he throws and misses a heavy hook, it often causes him to turn so much that he gives up his back. We saw that in the Bryce Mitchell fight. How many times did he give up his back? Let’s be honest here.”

Topuria is yet to be defeated in 16 pro bouts, including an 8-0 UFC mark. He won the featherweight title with a stunning knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, then followed that up by knocking out another legend, Max Holloway, in his first title defense at UFC 308.

That aura of invincibility is one reason Topuria is so tough to beat, according to Silva, but he believes the best of Oliveira – a former UFC lightweight champion – beats the best of Topuria.

“Topuria doesn’t believe he can lose, and that alone is a good advantage for him,” Silva said. “Someone who hasn’t lost, or who hasn’t lost in a while, doesn’t believe he can lose. And that gives you bigger chances than others. But if the Charles [that fought Michael Chandler] goes to this fight, he doesn’t need Jean or anyone else. He gets it done, no problem. But why not use all the weapons he has around him? I’m one of those.”

As for why Silva hasn’t mimicked Topuria’s style in his own fights, he simply hasn’t seen the need for it.

“Because I’m better than you,” Silva said. “That’s why I haven’t done [the same]. … I did better than him.”

“I don’t want to talk badly about [Topuria],” Silva added. “I just think I fight much better than he does. And if you watch it closely, every time Topuria drops his hand on the same side he slips his head toward. Same thing to the other side.”

In critiquing Topuria, Silva brought up the example of Topuria’s previous foray as a UFC lightweight, a March 2022 encounter with veteran Jai Herbert. Topuria took that fight on short notice and nearly paid the price for his temerity as he suffered a knockdown in the first round before battling back in Round 2 to knock Herbert out.

Silva knows exactly why Topuria was briefly in danger in that fight and expects Oliveira to be able to capitalize on the same mistakes with Silva’s help.

“He threw a right overhand, then leaned back and threw a left hook,” Silva said. “He opened up to land the hook but it was too wide. And both times he got knocked down in MMA, inside and outside the UFC, were like that. That’s why I know I can mimic him, from watching his fights. It’s no secret, just studies. And he doesn’t like it, it’s all good.”

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