So it begins. Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are officially fighting each other for the vacant lightweight title. Demanding a shot at 155 lbs directly from the UFC CEO, ‘El Matador ‘ got exactly what he asked for: a war with Brazil’s finest. Sure, we didn’t get the highly anticipated clash with the Dagestani—at least not yet—but a firefight with Oliveira promises fireworks of its own. In McGregor-esque fashion, Topuria isn’t just targeting Oliveira’s record—he’s questioning his career as well as his skills. With tensions hotter than a nuclear core, Topuria’s next move is bold, risky, and potentially legacy-defining.

Going into the fight, Topuria enters with two of the biggest wins of his career—against Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. There was no mercy for either of them, as Topuria not only defeated but also finished off these legends by winning both the fights by knockout. No wonder the MMA community has dubbed Topuria the “Legend Killer.” Now, the majority believe that the former lightweight champion might suffer the same fate, as Topuria has vowed to show no mercy to anyone. But is ‘El Matador’ taking up Oliveira as a challenge? In his books, ‘Do Bronx’ doesn’t even amount to a threat.

Talking to the Spanish media, Ilia Topuria called out to the former lightweight champion subtly, “I haven’t dissed (Charles), I’ve told the truth. He has 10 losses. He says (lightweight) is the toughest division there is. When he was fighting at 145lbs, Cub Swanson beat him up.”   We are no strangers to ‘El Matador’s mic skills, but now the former featherweight champion will have to prove his mettle inside the Octagon. He has already made several statements belittling Oliveira; however, his new game plan has seriously rocked the MMA community.

According to Spanish journalist Irati Pratt, Ilia Topuria and his brother, Aleksandre Topuria, have split from their coaches – the Climent Brosthers – and train in different camps and in different cities. “Both parties live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating in the same way they have always done.” Aleksandre Topuria has always been an integral part of Ilia Topuria’s fight camp, but it appears the brothers are looking to try something new. Whether it will bear fruit remains to be seen—that is the question yet to be answered.

With an undefeated record of 18 victories, Ilia Topuria will enter the battle with the intent to claim the title. However, his lack of experience at lightweight could be a concern. Under the UFC banner, Topuria has competed only once in the lightweight division—and that was against Jai Herbert. In contrast, Charles Oliveira has been with the UFC for over a decade and has already faced many of the division’s top contenders.

‘Do Bronx’ may have the upper hand if we go strictly by the textbook, but reality can be very different inside the Octagon. Interestingly, a former UFC fighter has come forward to reveal the weak point of ‘El Matador.’ Curious? Let’s take a look!

Josh Thomson believes Charles Oliveira might have an upper hand against Ilia Topuria

Former UFC fighter and current insider Josh Thomson believes that despite the bravado surrounding Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira has an equal chance of securing a victory against him. Reflecting on Oliveira’s career, Thomson offered insight into the Brazilian’s presence and his already large frame for the 155-pound division. The former fighter emphasized that the significant size difference between them could take a serious toll on Topuria.

While having a conversation on ‘Weighing-In’ podcast, Thomson asserted, “But what’s Charles like at 155 pounds against somebody who, like a Charles Oliveira, what, is Ilia like at 155 lbs? Can he handle the weight? Do you know what exactly where he is in that position? Can he handle the weight? Can he handle the length of Charles? You know, the high knees, if he dips his head, the knees coming through the middle.”

He further added, “Charles Oliveira is dangerous, I mean he’s got the height, um, you know, he’s got the push kicks, he’s got good leg kicks. He can kick the head really well, you know, he can jump on the gilly extremely well. I mean I want you guys to remember, Ilia lost a takedown and almost gave his back up, or was giving up his back to Bryce Mitchell.”

There is a significant height difference between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador’ stands at 5’7″ while Oliveira is 5’10”. Oliveira has both a height and reach advantage over Topuria, but it’s important to remember that Max Holloway had the same physical advantage—and we all know what happened when they fought.