Eric Albarracin, coach of Paulo Costa and Henry Cejudo, shared his insights in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net about the upcoming fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira.
"Yes, Arman Tsarukyan should probably have been fighting for the lightweight title. However, his last fight was cancelled because of reasons on his part. That's why he’s not competing for the title. I understand that such things happen in MMA. But the UFC does not. They want to arrange a match between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira," Albarracin stated.
Eric Albarracin exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
So, I understand that Charles Oliveira is a former UFC champion. They want to set up a fight between two champions. It should be a great match. Ilia hasn’t shown any weaknesses in his game. He is undefeated, which makes him formidable. But stepping up to face Oliveira at lightweight is a big leap. Charles punches very hard and is very skilled in jiu-jitsu. So, I expect a real battle. I can’t wait to see it. I believe it will be an amazing fight.
Topuria boasts 16 wins with no losses, while Oliveira has achieved 35 victories and suffered ten defeats throughout his career. The fighters are scheduled to face each other on June 28 at UFC 315.
