Aljamain Sterling believes Charles Oliveira must respect Ilia Topuria’s power and possibly focus on grappling to win their UFC 317 fight for the vacant lightweight title, as Topuria has shown formidable striking and remains undefeated.
Aljamain Sterling has a lot of respect for Ilia Topuria’s power, and he believes Charles Oliveira should take note. Oliveira, once criticized for crumbling under pressure, has transformed into a resilient champion. His ability to endure punishment and retaliate has earned him numerous highlight-reel finishes and post-fight bonuses.
On June 28, Oliveira has a shot at reclaiming the lightweight title at UFC 317. He faces Topuria for the belt left vacant by Islam Makhachev. Sterling, however, questions if Oliveira should rely on his usual aggressive style against Topuria.
“This is interesting because Oliveira gets dropped every fight,” Sterling noted on The Weekly Scraps podcast. "Topuria’s power at 155 is something else. If he lands on Charles, it could be a tough night and lead to Ilia becoming a two-division champion."
The grappling aspect adds another layer of intrigue. Sterling wonders if Oliveira will test Topuria’s grappling to exhaust him and diminish his striking power. This remains a significant question mark in the matchup.
Oliveira is one of MMA’s most feared grapplers, holding a record 16 UFC submission victories. His size advantage over Topuria could play a crucial role in close exchanges.
Topuria, known for his striking, has also demonstrated wrestling skills. He knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight title and was the first to KO Max Holloway, showcasing his legend-killing prowess.
Sterling ponders how far Topuria can climb in the all-time ranks. “It’s hard to count out do Bronx,” he said. “But after what Ilia did to Max and Volk, you wonder, ‘Who’s stopping this guy?’”
Oliveira’s recent record is 2-2, but he previously won 11 straight fights in a stacked division. Meanwhile, Topuria remains undefeated in 16 pro bouts.
Their fight could hinge on who imposes their will, and Sterling expects this to be a key question throughout the bout. “I’m leaning towards Ilia,” Sterling admitted. “Smart money’s on him, but Oliveira can surprise us if he grapples early.”
The big question: can Oliveira keep his defense tight and secure takedowns against a shorter opponent? It’s a challenging task, and the answer might define the fight.