Yair Rodriguez just isn’t 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 battle 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 battle after the KO, so quickly in opposition to Topuria,” Rodriguez informed Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “So I believe he did somewhat little bit of a mistake there. I might have waited somewhat bit longer.
“I believe he’s going to win. However I simply suppose in all the probabilities, the one cause I believe Topuria may win is [Volkanovski] gained’t be one hundred pc. Not mentally, however possibly bodily, inside his head. Who is aware of what occurs after you get a KO. Topuria hits arduous. There are a number of components. That’s the one factor that I believe can have an effect on Volkanovski. He’s actually good, he’s actually good. I believe he’s a method higher fighter than Topuria, and I believe he’ll win.”
Rodriguez confronted Volkanovski this previous July, dropping by third-round TKO of their featherweight title unification bout at UFC 290, and which will play a think about his breakdown of the battle. However his confidence in Volkanovski additionally could be attributable to his emotions about Topuria.
“I simply don’t f****** just like the man,” Rodriguez stated. “He talks a lot s***, and I believe it was a simple method for him to go and battle for the title. I’m not solely going to say me, however completely different fighters, we’ve got to go battle like true warriors, true f****** lions, and this man, I believe it was a neater approach to go and battle for the title. That’s it. I believe the UFC is making it straightforward for him.
“He does a reasonably good job advertising and marketing himself. The largest 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. All people is aware of that, and I believe 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 folks 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 battle, I might f****** wish to f*** him up.”
If Rodriguez is flawed, although, and Topuria beats Volkanovski, his hopes of dealing with the Spaniard won’t be really easy to manifest. Earlier this month, Topuria stated if he wins the belts, he’ll goal a battle with Conor McGregor over giving opponents like Rodriguez — who failed in opposition to Volkanovski — a title shot.
Unsurprisingly, Rodriguez didn’t take kindly to that.
“He’s f****** delusional,” Rodriguez stated. “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*** in regards to 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 speak about any person that’s higher identified than you within the sport, and then you definitely begin turning 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 and marketing. He won’t ever get to battle any person like McGregor, he won’t ever get to face any person like Canelo. In fact not. …
“His profession will probably be over after this battle in opposition to 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 the moment 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 consider a battle with Topuria will occur instantly. However when it does, he’d be more than pleased to settle their variations – and even give Topuria the house area benefit.
“If I win my battle in opposition to Brian Ortega, which I’m planning on doing, and Alexander Volkanovski wins, I wish to face Volkanovski, after all,” Rodriguez stated. “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 battle in Spain. It’s his home. I might like to f****** beat him in his home.”
