Ilia Topuria has been outspoken about his skills, frequently mocking Charles Oliveira online. Through his training videos, Topuria consistently claims he’ll knock out the Brazilian fighter. Meanwhile, ‘Do Bronx’ has fired back, silencing his critics and raising doubts about the Spanish fighter’s ground game.
International Fight Week is just days away, and the anticipation is building as Topuria and Oliveira prepare to headline UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight championship. Leading up to the title clash, ‘Do Bronx’ spoke about Topuria’s grappling credentials, questioning why the Spanish fighter has yet to showcase his jiu-jitsu inside the UFC. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, the former lightweight champ said:
“The last one said Charles quits, and I went there and ran over him. ‘Charles has no hands’ — I went there and knocked him out. We know he [Ilia] has aggressive boxing; he’s very dangerous. Everybody says his jiu-jitsu is good, but he hasn’t used it in the UFC yet.”
Charles Oliveira fires back at critics and questions Ilia Topuria’s untested ground game ahead of their lightweight title fight 👀😲
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 18, 2025
"The last one said Charles quits, and I went there and ran over him. 'Charles has no hands' — I went there and knocked him out. We know he [Ilia]… pic.twitter.com/UtuoP0l4is
Before joining the UFC, Ilia Topuria secured multiple submission victories in other organizations. However, since arriving in the UFC, he has primarily showcased his striking, though he has still demonstrated solid grappling skills when needed.
Ilia Topuria Warns Charles Oliveira of a Knockout as Title Clash Draws Near
Ilia Topuria isn’t letting up on the mind games as his title fight with Charles Oliveira draws near. Set to battle for the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 317 on June 28. Topuria has been confidently firing shots online, and his latest message is no different.
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The Spanish fighter, who vacated his featherweight title to chase gold in a second division, shared a fiery training video on Instagram with the caption, “Don’t forget to bring the pillow. @CharlesDoBronxs.”
In the clip, Topuria showcased crisp striking and high-level grappling, sparking fan excitement for an action-packed showdown. While Oliveira brings more ground experience, Topuria hasn’t faced a true test there in the Octagon, making this explosive matchup even more intriguing.
