Ilia Topuria’s Rival’s Coach Stirs The Pot As He Gives His Take On The UFC 317 Main Event

Coach of Ilia Topuria's rival gives his take on his upcoming UFC 317 main event title fight against Charles Oliveira!

Ilia Topuria’s Rival’s Coach Stirs The Pot As He Gives His Take On The UFC 317 Main Event

Mixed martial arts has always been a sport where coaches play chess while fighters throw punches. Behind every great champion stands a mastermind pulling strings. These trainers know that fights are won and lost long before the cage door closes. They understand the power of words, the art of psychological warfare, and how to get inside opponents’ heads. From Greg Jackson’s strategic brilliance to Firas Zahabi’s analytical approach, the best coaches use every tool available to give their fighters an edge.

The lightweight and featherweight divisions have become hotbeds of drama lately. Coaches have become just as vocal as their fighters. When a respected coach speaks up about upcoming fights involving rivals, fans can bet there’s more than just casual observation behind their comments. That’s exactly what happened when Javier Mendez, the longtime coach of Islam Makhachev, decided to weigh in on the upcoming UFC 317 showdown between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira.

Javier Mendez Makes His Prediction For UFC 317 Main Event Fight

Javier Mendez didn’t hold back when discussing the featherweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. The American Kickboxing Academy head coach made it clear that he’s rooting for the Brazilian veteran to pull off what many consider an upset. Mendez praised Oliveira’s well-rounded skill set, highlighting both his dangerous striking and world-class submission game. He emphasized that ‘Do Bronx’ has the ability to finish fights in spectacular fashion, something that makes him a serious threat to any opponent.

“It’s kinda stupid to count such a great champion like Charles out. Charles is one of my favourites. So outside of fighting us, i’m always rooting for him to win. So, i’m on Charles side even though i’m impressed with Topuria,” said Mendez via Submission Radio.

Mendez admitted that while he expects Topuria to be the betting favorite, he genuinely believes Oliveira can reclaim championship gold. He further mentioned that if Topuria wins, it would actually create a better matchup for his fighter Islam Makhachev in a potential future superfight (at lightweight or welterweight). The Spanish-Georgian champion’s aggressive style might play right into Makhachev’s grappling-heavy approach.

The veteran coach knows that Oliveira has faced adversity before. But he also recognizes that the Brazilian has shown incredible resilience throughout his career, bouncing back from setbacks to reach even greater heights. Mendez’s respect for Oliveira’s ability to overcome obstacles adds weight to his prediction that the former lightweight champion will steal the spotlight at UFC 317!

(Image Credit: UFC Europe – X)

Charles Oliveira

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Javier Mendez

UFC 317

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!