Yair Rodriguez is just not a fan of Ilia Topuria.
On Saturday, Topuria challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 298 in Anaheim, Calif. It’s Volkanovski’s first struggle again since getting knocked out by Islam Makhachev in October, and the fast turnaround has many involved for the long-reigning featherweight champion.
Though Rodriguez believes it’s not preferrred, he nonetheless believes in Volkanovski.
“I used to be shocked about him taking one other struggle after the KO, so quickly towards Topuria,” Rodriguez advised Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “So I feel he did slightly little bit of a mistake there. I might have waited slightly bit longer.
“I feel he’s going to win. However I simply suppose in all the chances, the one cause I feel Topuria may win is [Volkanovski] gained’t be 100%. Not mentally, however perhaps bodily, within his head. Who is aware of what occurs after you get a KO. Topuria hits laborious. There are a number of elements. That’s the one factor that I feel can have an effect on Volkanovski. He’s actually sensible, he’s actually good. I feel he’s a manner higher fighter than Topuria, and I feel he’ll win.”
Rodriguez confronted Volkanovski this previous July, shedding by third-round TKO of their featherweight title unification bout at UFC 290, and that will play a consider his breakdown of the struggle. However his confidence in Volkanovski additionally may be attributable to his emotions about Topuria.
“I simply don’t f****** just like the man,” Rodriguez mentioned. “He talks a lot s***, and I feel it was a simple manner for him to go and struggle for the title. I’m not solely going to say me, however completely different fighters, we have now to go struggle like true warriors, true f****** lions, and this man, I feel it was a better strategy to go and struggle for the title. That’s it. I feel the UFC is making it simple for him.
“He does a fairly good job advertising himself. The most important factor on this sport, if you know the way to market your self, you get the higher offers, you get the higher fights. It’s no secret. Everyone is aware of that, and I feel he’s nice at doing that. I don’t blame him for that. I simply don’t f****** just like the man. …
“It’s unhappy that individuals like him get the higher fights due to his mouth, not due to his fights. I don’t f****** like that. No matter the results of this struggle, I might f****** prefer to f*** him up.”
If Rodriguez is mistaken, although, and Topuria beats Volkanovski, his hopes of going through the Spaniard won’t be really easy to manifest. Earlier this month, Topuria mentioned if he wins the belts, he’ll target a fight with Conor McGregor over giving opponents like Rodriguez — who failed towards Volkanovski — a title shot.
Unsurprisingly, Rodriguez didn’t take kindly to that.
“He’s f****** delusional,” Rodriguez mentioned. “He’s not even f****** in the identical world as us. One other f****** planet. I’m fairly certain Volkanovski goes to do the primary job in f****** him up after which he’s going to need to eat all of those phrases and everyone goes to be f****** laughing at him, I can guarantee you of that. …
“I by no means gave a f*** concerning the man till he began f****** speaking s*** about me. I didn’t actually take note of him, however that is the title of the game. You discuss anyone that’s higher identified than you within the sport, and then you definately begin changing into extra identified. That’s what he’s doing. Let’s be trustworthy about this, as a result of this isn’t a secret. He’ll speak s*** about whoever. He’s mentioning Canelo, he’s mentioning McGregor, why do you suppose he’s doing that? It’s advertising. He won’t ever get to struggle anyone like McGregor, he won’t ever get to face anyone like Canelo. After all not. …
“His profession can be over after this struggle towards Volkanovski. He’s been speaking a lot s***, saying so many issues, and persons are going to be f****** laughing at him after this.”
Rodriguez is at present scheduled to face Brian Ortega in a five-round rematch within the co-main occasion of UFC Mexico later this month. Given the state of the featherweight title image proper now, and his perception that Volkanovski will retain the belt, Rodriguez doesn’t imagine a struggle with Topuria will occur instantly. However when it does, he’d be very happy to settle their variations – and even give Topuria the house subject benefit.
“If I win my struggle towards Brian Ortega, which I’m planning on doing, and Alexander Volkanovski wins, I wish to face Volkanovski, after all,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Why would I face [Topuria]? He has nothing to supply. However I wish to face him, in some unspecified time in the future, and f*** him up.
“If UFC plans to go to Spain, f***, I might like to struggle in Spain. It’s his home. I might like to f****** beat him in his home.”
