Will Ilia Topuria Get Back Into Championship Territory Again?
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Following a devastating loss, will Ilia Topuria be able to attain his peak form again?
Ilia Topuria had a dream run in the UFC. Establishing himself as a knockout artist, the Spaniard quickly became one of the UFC’s most valuable assets. Unfortunately, all of that came to a screeching halt when he lost his bout against Justin Gaethje. Now, as he tries to navigate his way back, there are some significant question marks on his status as a dominant fighter.
Can Ilia Topuria Replicate Earlier Dominance?
When he predicted his win against Alexander Volkanovski in the featherweight division, not many people believed Ilia Topuria. That’s because Volkanovski back then was considered the king of the division. He had recently fought Islam Makhachev in lightweight and given him a hard time. As the bout got underway, Topuria finished Volkanovski with a combination of thundering punches.
He continued his domination since then on every opponent, until he met Justin Gaethje. Walking in as the favorite once more, Topuria went to Gaethje right from the word go.
‘The Highlight’ seemed in a different mood altogether. While he was always known for his boxing, Gaethje outclassed Topuria significantly. Despite the Spaniard’s best efforts, Gaethje took the win.
How Does Ilia Topuria Rebound?
Losses can be common in any sport, but the manner in which he lost looks like a reason for concern. He incurred a broken nose and a fractured orbital. As the medical team intervened to stop Topuria from fighting past the fourth round, the Spaniard’s mental toughness also took a hit.
While his physical wounds will slowly fade away, the comeback would put his mentality and will to the extreme test. There is no doubt about his skills as a fighter. Over the years, Topuria has beaten the likes of Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and more.
None of this happened by accident. Thus, while it's possible for Topuria to wipe off the loss as a bad day in the office, his performance in the first fight post-comeback will determine if we will see the old ‘El Matador’ again in the UFC.
