UFC Prodigy Topuria Shines in Friendly Sparring with Nelk Boys
Ilia Topuria is a force to be reckoned with in the world of UFC. Recently, he respectfully put on display, his formidable striking ability during a friendly sparring session with the trio from Nelk Boys who joined him on a live stream. The UFC heavyweight and lightweight champion was given the chance to spar with Steiny, Kyle Forgeard, and Salim, prominent figures from the influencer sphere. One conspicuous moment was when Salim humorously stated that his preferred UFC fighter was none other than Makhachev, who’s recognized as Topuria’s adversary.
During the Wednesday live stream, the spitfire, Topuria, demonstrated his agility by landing impressive right hooks on Kyle Forgeard, co-founder of Nelk Boys, and Aaron ‘Steiny’ Steinberg, the host of Full Send Podcast. The stream was buzzing with moments where all members had a tiff with the UFC titan, sparring and grappling, before finally deciding to don gloves for some serious striking.
Ilia Topuria’s phenomenal power was unforgettably displayed in Las Vegas, where he claimed the UFC lightweight title with an astounding first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira. The history books of UFC remember this victory as another milestone, as he became the 10th fighter to hold championships in two different weight divisions.
Adding to this accomplishment, Topuria set his own unique benchmark, becoming the first-ever dual-weight champion in UFC to achieve this status without a single loss. His victory was spectacular, dropping Oliveira to the canvas only at 2:27 of the opening round, creating ripples of amazement among fans.
In the aftermath of this powerful knockout victory, conjecture began to swirl regarding who the undefeated champion would face next. Eyes turned to Paddy Pimblett, the 8th-ranked lightweight fighter hailing from Liverpool, England.
There’s a hint of a past rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria, which traces back to 2021. The undefeated champion had earlier shown interest in facing Pimblett for his first title defense, ideally situating the bout in the vibrant city of Las Vegas.
Yet the landscape appeared to transform slightly when Topuria clarified he felt Pimblett would need another triumph before stepping into the ring with him. He expressed his views on the probable trajectory of UFC, hinting at adjustments he anticipates from the organization.
Supporting his outlook, Topuria articulated his belief that both Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett should collect another victory before challenging him for the title. By his analysis, he prophesied that UFC would promote Justin Gaethje as the most likely contender for his crown.