Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has made a major shift ahead of his lightweight title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. He recently confirmed that he has split with longtime coaches Jorge and Agustin Climent, raising questions just weeks before the biggest bout of his career.
Daniel Cormier finds the timing questionable
Daniel Cormier, former double champion and current UFC analyst, didn’t hide his concern. “To me, that’s a little bit odd,” he said, commenting on the decision. Cormier believes stability is critical during a title camp, and switching coaches just before fight night adds unnecessary risk. “It’s not just about training—it’s about trust, rhythm, routine.”
Why Topuria left the Climent brothers
Topuria trained at the Climent Club in Alicante for years, building a 16–0 record with knockout wins over elite fighters like Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. But after relocating to Madrid, the long commute became unsustainable. Rather than force a compromise, Topuria chose to move forward with his brother Aleksandre and his boxing coach, Javi Climent. The decision, according to him, was “mutual and respectful.”
A title shot and legacy on the line
Topuria is not just defending a reputation—he’s chasing history. After vacating the featherweight belt earlier this year due to weight cut difficulties, he now aims to become a two-division UFC champion. A win over Oliveira would make him one of the few fighters to claim belts in both featherweight and lightweight divisions.
UFC 317 card promises fireworks
The event, set for June 28 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlines the UFC’s International Fight Week. Topuria vs Oliveira is the main event, supported by several high-stakes bouts:
- Main event: Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight title)
- Co-main: Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France (Flyweight title)
- Feature fights: Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano, Brandon Royval vs Manel Kape, Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov
What’s next for Topuria?
If Topuria wins, he could emerge as a new face of the promotion’s European market. But if the gamble backfires, critics may point to this late-stage team change as a costly mistake. All eyes will be on how he performs—with or without his original corner.
