Ilia Topuria
Appearances
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
There's no point in putting time on it right now. Exactly. Once I will stop enjoying it, I will retire. So what makes you want to move up to 155 so bad? Because I really believe that I can be the current champion, Islam. I really think that he's a great champion. He does. You can't be a world champion by chance. You have to do things great. He's a beast. Yeah, he's a beast.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But I like the competition. And I don't like to be a bully and fight with people that I know 100% that I'm going to walk his ass. I like to fight with people that the fans think that it's going to be very competitive. That kind of expectation I like to create. So with Islam, I'm going to have that.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Doing again the rematch with people that I already fought, I don't think that I'm going to have the same kind of expectations, you know, for the fans. Yeah, I love Volk too.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But just as a fan, it's kind of like... I have to give him his credits also because you never know what's going to happen in the rematch.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
i'm sure that i'm gonna knock him out once again if we fight again or i will submit him i will do the same things but at the same time you can't joke with that guy he's a legend right if that's what i mean the only the only thing he knows to do is fighting so i can't underestimate him at all because he's a beast like with max holloway i just knock him out
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But maybe we fight again and you never know what's going to happen. Is there anyone else you'd want to fight at lightweight? I know you said you'd be willing to fight Oliveira. There are so many excited fights in the lightweight division. Even Armand now, I guess he's kind of... Yeah, Armand needs to build himself a little bit more, you know?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But at this point, just imagine a fight between me and I love that dog, Dustin Poirier. He's a fucking fighter. You know what I mean? You know that he goes in and he fights till he dies. You're going to have that guy in front of you fighting and try to take your head off. That's a very exciting fight for me and I think for the fans also. Islam is a great fight. Charles is a great fight.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Justin Gaethje is a great fight. I can mention you so many great fights that I could have in the lightweight division. The Islam fight would be a fucking super fight. Absolutely.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
That's a great fight. That's why I want to do it. Why do you think the UFC doesn't want to make it happen? I don't think that they don't want to make it happen. It's in the works? Yeah, it's in the works. They are trying to figure out some things. So how do you beat Islam? Is Georgian wrestling better than Dagestani wrestling? You can't analyze the wrestling that way because you never know.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
You see a Russian guy wrestling with an American guy and it can go... Either way, you know what I mean? But I have so many, so many things against Islam that he's going to have some hard time with me. And something he knows and we all know is that The only thing I need, it's one punch.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
And you know for sure that I'm going to connect that one punch because I don't throw my punches like a crazy, a crazy, you know? I'm waiting for my moment and I apply a lot of technique behind that punch. You know, I move my head and I know where to throw those punches. And we all know that at some point I will connect that punch and everything will depend on
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
do you like being in the corner wow it's kind of weird you know because when i walk in in in the octagon when i'm fighting i feel like i have the control over everything but with my pride was so so weird because from the corner you can't do anything right whatever happens you have to accept it you know he wins he lose he gets knocked out or he knocks out So you feel tension all the time.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
what god will decide if he wants to go if he wants to to send islam to sleep or not who knows that i know that didn't you say you want to submit him yeah I can also submit him. To be honest, I always say that I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts and what that means.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Before, you were seeing guys in MMA, they were good in striking and maybe in wrestling, but their ground game wasn't that good. Or you see a guy who has a phenomenal ground game, he has a phenomenal striking, but his wrestling sucks. In my case, I'm good everywhere. So you can take me everywhere and I'm going to feel comfortable. They used to say like, I'm going to take you to the deep water.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I was burned in the deep water. You know what I mean? Take me wherever you want to take me.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I don't know. That guy is so sick. He has some problems and he's inside war, you know? And at the same time, when he was starting in the mixed martial arts, he was an idol for all of us. You know, he was a great fighter representing good values.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
He did a lot for the sport, but at some point he betrayed all the values that put him in that point. You know what I mean? Yeah. So he get crazy. He started to be disrespectful with everyone around him, with all the people in the US, with all the fighters, with everyone, you know, and at some point you fall, you know, the people comes against you.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
they don't like that if they support you you have to you have to give them the same love back where do you think his downfall was starting to party like he's not he he wasn't a sportsman he taking drugs all that kind of you know what i mean because we all know that you're always going to have that kind of temptations, you know?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But if you are really a champion, a fucking legend, you can against everything. You have to have that control about the things, not the things that have to have the control about you.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I want to be more than Conor McGregor. you know what i mean uh the values he represents it's not the same values i represent so that's why i think i'm gonna be even bigger than him actually i'm bigger than him right now at this point i'm bigger than him maybe more people knows him but the way they know him i don't want anyone to know me that way right so maybe it takes me a little bit longer
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
And I'm very patient. I know that there's no elevators in life and slow is the fastest way to get where you want to be. You don't want to rush anything, right? I don't want to rush anything. It never pays off in the end.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Yeah, I have a different relationship now. Of course, as a champion, you can do things a little bit different. But at the same time, the people that understand about the business are there. They understand. Dana and Hunter understand about the business. I can have many ideas, but they had how many champions they had before me.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Is it more nervous fighting or being in the corner? Being in the corner, I was more nervous. Do you ever tell him some stuff and he just doesn't listen? No, I feel that he listens to me a lot like I do all the time when I'm fighting. I try to listen to him because I feel that... He knows me really well. He knows my inside world.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
So they have so much experience that you can just go there and say, I want to do this. See or see. You want it or not, you can do it that way. Because they know how to run the business. They know how to build the stars.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Exactly. His hype was like momentanio. In the moment, he has a lot of hype, this and that, but the quality of the fighter he is, man, come on, please. Don't even compare me to that boom.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
because we are on different levels and everyone can see that see it now that we are on different levels what do you think happened with him because he was kind of on like he was on he was very disrespectful to me to my country to all my people and he he just behaved like a a idiot you know he he started to talk about the war we had against russia and and that
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
He said something, now I understand why the Russians put the bombs in Georgia. And many kids died in that war. Many people died in that war. You know, not a lot of good things happened in the war. So when you start to joke about that kind of things, just make sure that we don't find each other anywhere because I'm going to take your fucking head off. You know what I mean?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
He wants to build his hype laughing on people. And that's not the way I'm looking to build the hype.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
In my case, it's real because I had press conference where I was respectful to my opponents because they were respectful to me. But when they try to go a different way, bro, I'm never looking for a problem. But if the problem comes to me, I say no fucking problem.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I don't know. It was so fun that someone is not accepting Kamala Harris because he wants to watch my fight against Max Holloway. That's fun. It's dope how much of just a fan Joe Rogan is that he would say that. And he said that, you know, he didn't have to say that. He would like close his mouth and don't say anything. But I love Joe Rogan. You ever going to go on Joe Rogan?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I think you should go on. If he invites me, why not? He's the best.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
You can't refuse that invitation. Who's like your top three fighters of all time? The first one has to be Jon Jones. You have to give the credit to that man. Because to me, it's too fun when I see people comparing him with the Dagestani guys, even with Khabib, with Islam or that type. All the respect to all the champions. But for example, Khabib, he has how many? 14, 15 fights in the UFC.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
We meet each other in Las Vegas. I had, I don't know, a small conversation with him, but he seems to be a very nice guy. He tried to help us many, many times. So I appreciate him to help me every time.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Exactly. He's still going. I don't know. For me, he's the number one. Number two, number two. Wow. That one is a tough question, actually. Maybe Anderson Silva. was goaded back in the day i don't want to leave anyone outside that you know because i love many of them and i respect and then they inspire me in different moments of my career number three who it would be number three number three
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
George St. Peter, yeah. He was my favorite. I'm from Canada, so he was, yeah.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
He knows when I can't push my opponents, when I have to rest, recover my condition. So we have a special connection. What did you think of the Duplessis-Strickland fight? To be honest, I didn't watch it. No? No.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
the ufc wants to make happen something the ufc wants it but it's acting jones is saying publicly that he you know he's kind of being like iffy online about it um but maybe that's just a negotiation tactic right and negotiation tactical that's the truth maybe this is what he wants to go go inside the octagon because at this point
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
he he don't need to fight anymore you know if if he fights he's honest like this is what i need to go inside that octagon and put the performance you you want from my side so this is what motivates me this is what i need to go in if you're willing to pay me just pay me if not god bless you We all good. If anyone's earned a fat payday, it's him, right? For how long he's been in the UFC?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I don't know for how many. He's almost 40, right? Yeah. And he became a world champion with 23. Crazy. So only... calculating since the day he become a world champion to now it's 17 years almost so yeah how do you how do you see that fight playing out bro I like Aspinall also he's a great fighter and he represents also a new generation he's a new blood but I don't know man
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
At the same time, I don't want to say anything because I know how it feels when someone gets a question about me when I was fighting, for example, with Max Holloway and they were asked, what do you think about this fight? I understand that they can't go against Max Holloway because it's very difficult to bet against someone like him, but they don't know my reality.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
They don't know how much I'm working, how much I desire that victory and how much I'm willing to give to get it. So maybe we have the same case with Tom Aspinall. I don't know. It's like...
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
it's a tough one to call yeah you don't want to get i don't want to answer yeah because i respect both of them so much how happy for that you're at like with my rob and stuff that two georgian champs are so happy he's a machine he's so crazy at the same time he's hilarious that guy if i do the same kind of things As he does, you would say this guy is crazy. But on him, bro, it looks great.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Yeah, we were celebrating. We came out, he did all his interviews and then we went to celebrate a little bit. We were watching his fight. I don't know, we watched it for a hundred times.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I don't know. I love that guy. What did you make of his last performance?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Fucking machine. I love the performance he had the last time. He... He showed that he's the world champion. He's the best. I saw him enjoying inside the octagon because if you don't have that kind of control, which he had, you can do this kind of things and you can laugh on the guy when you take him down and you are not able to do that kind of things because you're so fucking nervous.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
so he showed a different kind of level you know he he's the best were you surprised at his dominance in that fight at all this is what i what i was expecting from him i always knew that he was much better than than that guy that normal metal much better bro they you seem her up sometimes you seem her up you see him fighting and you think like
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
This guy is not going to take me down because his takedowns doesn't look like very technical. But when you do sparrings with him or you fight with him, everything changes. You know, his timing, the way he moves, the way he does it. There's a reason why he is the best in the world. I don't see anyone... It's going to be tough for someone to beat him, right?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But none of them have like a special cardio and special stamina. You know what I mean? The way they do it, it's like if you see fighting any of them, The thing they need when they go inside the octagon, in the first contact, they want to feel that they dominate you. And they start to build their confidence since that. Like, I can dominate you. Maybe you escape. We go in the striking again.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
But I felt that I'm stronger than you. But if they feel in the first contact, in the first round, that they can control you, that it's very competitive, their head... Goes down. Yeah. So what, you think it's about beating them in the earlier rounds? This is what they try to do, to beat you in the earlier rounds, to feel that they can dominate you, that they are stronger than you.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
This is what they try to do all the time. But when they realize that it's not like that, most of the time, they lose that kind of fights. All the competitive fights, they lose. All of them.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Or you see them dominating... everything, like take the people down, dominate them in the ground, or if you see a competitive fight, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
So we had a space with all our close friends, with partners. So we celebrate with music. We bring a DJ from Spain. I don't know, just enjoying with the family.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Yeah, a little bit of everything. A little fun? Yeah. What's your go-to drink? Is it the wine? I love to drink wine. And in special moments like that, maybe I can drink some tequilas or beer. Not very often, but in that kind of situations, I do it because... Sometimes you have to enjoy also the life, you know, it's not always to being in that, that way to on diet. I don't drink.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I'm going to show you how to do it. you know, Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to show you how to do it. Thank you.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I don't do this on that. You have to enjoy it. You got to mix it up. Yeah, of course.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I wasn't surprised, to be honest, because I always knew it. I always knew that my time would come. But it's always very emotional when you are able to live that specific moment in your life, especially when you fight a guy like Max Holloway that never has been knocked out.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
but i knew it i don't know i don't know where does that power come from from god he gives me that power because of course i i work hard i work very very very hard and i feel that i i don't only work the hard way i work the smart way also but i see also many many guys working really hard doing everything that they they can but they don't have this power so the conclusion is that
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
your mentality and how important is your mentality when it comes to everything that you're doing the only thing i do i base my values on what god is teaching us in the bible right so i try to do the all all the things that he he teach us i just try to to believe in myself because i always used to say this way that both uh fear and faith demand you to believe in something that you never saw and you choose and i always choose to believe in things that make me feel happy
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
So I was born in Germany. I have my brother and two sisters. So my parents decided to go back to Georgia because we... originally from Georgia. So we lived there for seven years. But in the first three years, my parents again have to leave us in Georgia and go back to Europe. Because in that moment, we didn't have a great situation in Georgia. Was there a war?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
It was so emotional for me to see him making his debut, see him win. It was something that we dreamed since we were kids. So seeing it in the reality, it was something very emotional to me and very happy.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Russia was... The war started once my parent left us a year after or something like that in 2008. So when you are eight, nine years old and you're dealing with that kind of situation and you don't have your heroes, which are your parents with that age, it's a little bit difficult. But at this moment, I appreciate... everything that I lived because it creates the man I am today.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
So wait, what was that like then? Who were you living with at the time when you were eight? With my brother and with my sister. And my grandma was taking care of us also and close family members. But without the parents, it's not the same, you know what I mean? So...
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
we had a difficult times but today i appreciate everything that that i lived because i wouldn't be here without that that experience and then you made it to spain when you were when we turned to when i was 15 years old finally we me and my brother we we went with my parents to spain and since since that moment we made the the gym where we training until today
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
and we meet the mixed martial arts i heard there's an interesting story with your mother with that i heard were you guys on a bus and she saw someone with cauliflower ear and then because at that at that time in spain they didn't have the culture of mixed martial arts at all no one knew anything about about that you weren't even training at this point at age 15. and we were doing the greek roman wrestling and we wanted to to kill with that discipline in spain also but they don't they don't have that sport also so either so
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
My mom saw in the street a man with a cauliflower ear. You can identify very fast a wrestler or a fighter. When you see that, you know not to fuck with that person. So my mom started to talk with that man and she told him like, I have two kids. They want to keep training. I don't know, maybe wrestling. And he said, I don't do wrestling, but I do Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
So take your kids and I will show you the gym. So when my mom came to home, she started to talk to us about the jujitsu, MMA and all that. And we didn't know anything at all. And I was like, I don't want to do anything with kimono because, you know, in wrestling, we don't use kimono.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
and my dad started to talk also with us and he was like this is an amazing sport you know the graces look this video this and that and finally they convinced convinced us to go to the gym and
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
since the day we we step in we we didn't came out until now that's crazy so do you give your mom a lot of credit a lot of friends and who's this guy with cauliflower here we got to find him and maybe of course he's a very very close friend of mine uh now he's still still of course he's a great person how can i forget him
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
they really have that fighter spirit inside them. But at the same time, they didn't have the culture of the sport. So I want them to be more familiar with the sport because we have great talents also there. So at the same time, I don't know. My goal is not only inspire people in the sport. I want to inspire them in life and be a motivation, a role model for them, you know?
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
Some of them choose the way, the path on doing their things in the sport. Some of them wants to start with some business. Some of them wants to be a doctor in the future. I don't know. I just want to be a great example for them.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
it's something that motivates me and gives a recognition to everything i'm doing right so it feels amazing when when does that fight happen at the bernaba hopefully i don't know in in 2025 but by the end of the year or maybe this year next year i hope so how does that make you feel when you just think about the possibility of that happening
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
It makes me feel... To give you chills or no? It makes me feel happy at the same time. I didn't fought in Spain, I don't know, since so many years ago, the last time I fought in Spain. So it will be something amazing going out there in front of all my people. I don't know, 80,000 people in Santiago Bernabéu with the mariachi song.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
It's going to be something that it's going to stay in my memories for life. And... At the end of the day, what's life? It's about the moments we are able to create and then remember them.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
And what's one thing you've learned from him? What I have learned from him, he was my idol since I was a kid. The way he was, like the character he has in the sport, like always fighting till the last second of the match, that inspired me a lot. So I was following his entire career.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
and the day when i when i met him it was like something very cool you know that you you're watching someone would you like him and at some point he comes to support you i don't know crazy things has he ever given you like any advice or anything like that many of them to be honest i i i can't tell you anything specific that he told me but only spending time with him
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
it's nice you know it it's it gives you a lot of motivation yeah whatever he he does even if you do the same things you are able to to verify that you are doing the same thing as someone who is so big you know so you you you know that you are on the right path That's also a learning.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
At the same time, it's something that I appreciate. Of course I do, but I always knew it. I don't know. I always believed that someday I would share the stages with them. I would share the conversations with them because I was doing everything that
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
was in my hands you know what i could do so i always had that faith that those days would come in my life yeah so since you've had that faith what do you see what do you see your legacy and what are your goals in the ufc and then also outside the ufc My goals in the UFC is to stay undefeated, to keep knocking people out. I don't go only in to just win, you know? I fight for the fans.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
I want to entertain people. I want them to enjoy. Like when I go somewhere, I want people to offer me a great show. That's why I put my money there. So I want to do the same thing to all the fans. and be as big as I can. I want to go to the lightweight division now. If the UFC wants me to give me that opportunity, I will become a two-weight class award champion.
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Ilia Topuria | Ep. 147
And I want to keep doing things like that. And outside the cage, as I told you before, I want to motivate and inspire people. How many years do you think you have left in the UFC? Until I enjoy. Yeah, just to play by ear? Yeah. At this point, I enjoy it. I want to keep doing it. And it's a difficult question to answer when I want to retire. I don't know.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I really know that I have the ability to shock the world. You're fight ready. You think he's fight ready to go up against you today? Him? Yeah. No. I finished him in the first round. Me, personally, I would ask him, like, what's your favorite submission? I'm going to submit you with that. I have to do it. Did you say you want to make more money than Ronaldo? I want to make more money than...
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
They just kind of call you and tell you, I got to fight for you. I got to fight for you. Okay. This is how it works. Of course, they have a conversation with you because they want you to feel also comfortable with the day, with the place, with the opponent, with everything. Got it. They figure out with you and you go after that. But at least what they do always with the champions is,
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
is that they give you at least 12 weeks of preparation. If you're a champion, they give you that 12-week respect. Yeah, because you need the training camp. You need to figure out how you're going to do it, how you're going to organize everything. You've got to move your whole team.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
life that they have like business wise it's not the best place spain spain but it's your favorite place no matter what like the quality of life that we have in spain you can find it anywhere in the world like for example in miami i love miami but we are recording yes we're recording Okay, so the quality of the food and everything, it's very different to Spain. Not close to Spain.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I have two names in my mind right now and we focus all trainings in two names. It's Charles and Islam. In case if he says you're fighting Charles. Yeah, in case that he says that I got to fight Charles, I'm ready for that because I'm doing a lot of like we watching his fights, seeing his weaknesses, where he's doing like, I don't know, where he's dangerous.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
All that, we study him, the same thing with Islam. He saw Paul. He moves a little bit different. He tends to go for the takedowns. So we are preparing. I'm so excited. Me, if someone asked me, like, I would love to fight with Islam, that would be a great one because I really know that I have the ability to – to shock the world.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Because I know that for me, it's gonna be like, I know that I'm gonna beat him, but for the world, it's gonna be like, just what happened. The same thing that happened with Walk, the same thing that happened with Max Holloway. No one ever knocked him out. No one did it. And it was like a surprise for everyone. But me personally, I always knew it.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Before I walk in the octagon, I was like, thanks God to give me the opportunity to be the first one to knock him out. Where does the confidence come from? From hard work and dedication. from and from God, I think so. And I'm gonna sound a little bit repetitive, but I always prefer to think about to have the kind of thoughts that make me feel happy, that empowers me. Because I feel fear.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Of course I do. But both of them, fear and faith, the magic that you never saw. I always... Prefer to believe in something that makes me feel happy. Fear. Yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Everyone does it. Everyone. How do you deal with it? How do you deal with it? I use it like from a positive way. I use it from like... I don't know. The first thing that happens where you are backstage, your mind used to take you to the octagon. And in reality, you are in the backstage. And I'm like, listen, right now I'm with my people, wrapping my hands, warm up.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know, whatever I'm doing, but I'm not fighting with anyone. So don't worry about anything. Just... save that energy because you are going to need that concentration, that focus inside the octagon. So if you are able to, don't let your mind to travel to the future, You are ahead of your opponents.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Nobody else? Nobody else. I just go, I watch myself in the mirror, and I'm like, this is the person you have to beat. The person in the mirror. Yeah. This is the person you have to meet. This is the person you have to meet. Are you listening to any music or no? I don't... Like, whatever. Like, oh, I play the music. Someone from my team plays the music. I don't have any...
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know how to say it in English. Ritual? Supersticiones. Oh, supersticiones.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
No, no, no.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
No, not at all. Why not? That's interesting. Because I don't like to depend on anything. I'm like, you wake me up at 5. Four o'clock, you tell me that I got to fight with someone, I do it. I don't care. So that's why. It's like I don't need my shorts. If I don't have my shorts, I have a bad luck. Or if I'm not wearing this or he's not able to come to watch my fight or whatever.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Not close to Spain. So the food is the best for you in Spain? The food, the product. Then the traffic. I spent an hour to come here. In Spain, this distance, I will be there, I don't know, in 30 minutes.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know. Nothing gets through. Nothing. I can walk like... I can go alone. Just imagine that my coaches can come with me, but my brother can come with me. No one. And I have to go alone. No problem. Can anybody get under your skin?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think the only person is my wife, probably. She's the only person. No one else, I think.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, but at the end of the day, he was playing basketball. Right. And I have enough of that energy that I want to go in and take his head off. You know, I'm fighting.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Before the fight, no. I'm just telling to myself that I need my self-call to be calculated. This is how I need myself. Emotions underground. I don't need my emotions at that moment.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Maybe I read it somewhere because I used to read a lot of books, but it was like I always had that kind of mentality, and also I prided that it was working for me in the fights. So all the time I go in, I'm like, my emotions are underground. I'm very calm.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
No ritual. I used to pray, of course. I used to pray, and I used to, yeah, I used to pray. This is what I do all the time. I wake up in the morning, I pray. And I feel thankful about everything that's happening to me for the opportunity. And I thank the gods before I'm getting the victory. I'm thanking to him, like, thank you for the victory. As a kid, did you watch something a lot?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
As a kid, my coach in Greg Romo Wrestling, he used to say it like this, like, You win the medals in the training. You just go to collect them in the fight. So this is my mentality, I think. I work so hard. I know everything that I did, that I did everything that I could. And there's no way that I'm not going to walk out from that octagon with the victory. This is how I feel. Really?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
The last two opponents I had, Wolk and Max Holloway. They both were very skillful. What was different about Max versus Wolk? What was the difference between Max and Walt? Good question. I never thought about that. What was the difference?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
What was the difference? I felt both of them like the same way, fast, very calculated. Like there are smart people inside the octagon. They have that fight IQ. You know what I mean? Normally I used to go inside the octagon and I'm, I feel like, I'm the smartest guy. But with them, I felt that they were smart also.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Because you can be very powerful, very fast, but if you don't have that mentality, you don't have that fight IQ. What does that mean, Elio? What does fight IQ mean? What does being smart in the ring mean? To use the technique at the right time, you know? May you have a lot of information. One thing is what you know, and the other thing is what you do with what you know. You know what I mean?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
To use it at the right time. So that's for me the fact that when you need something and you use it at the right time, for example, I don't know, if I feel that I can beat someone with only jabs, I don't switch the strategy in the whole fight. I do jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. I don't know how to explain it to you. It's a little bit difficult to explain from a fighter's perspective.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, but basically it's to choose the right technique at the right time, and they were doing that. They know how to... I don't know how to say that. Humberto, can you text that to me? Take away the patience from you, you know? Because you go in, you're very patient, you're very patient, but there are some kind of fighters that have the ability to take you from your place, you know?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And to make you play day game. Who plays?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
No. No one talked to me in the ring. Usually they don't have time to talk to me. Because I put so much pressure on them that they don't have the time. They don't have even time to breathe properly. What was it like fighting Bryce Mitchell? To be honest, he surprised me because he was the first person to take me down. And he had that proper technique for takedowns. But I don't know.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I just felt that I break him mentally, physically, everywhere. He was known as a great grappler. I submit him. Like, what do you want me to do with you? He's like, I don't know, crazy guy. The earth is flat. And what? Okay, just suppose that the earth is flat and what we do with that information, bro? What the fuck are you talking about? So for the record, you don't think the earth is flat?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
To be honest, I think that it's not flat because this is what they teach me since I was a kid. But even if it's flat, what it changed to me? What I do with that information? Okay, someone comes to me, the earth is flat. Okay, you convinced me. And what? What happens now?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I wanna serve the most amount of people that I can. I wanna serve, inspire, motivate people.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
100%.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
That's how I see it. Like what I do with that information. Like sometimes people want to convince you about something. It's like, okay, you're right. And what happens now? What I do with that? My life change. I get better. I make more money. I don't know what happens. Nothing. So what?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
more relationship with friends and family and i'm more with with energy like my with feelings it depends how i feel with the with the person because i can have a lot of information for example about someone But then I met him in person and the feeling I have with him is completely different. So, yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think that since the moment that I fought, I don't know, when I made two fights in the UFC, probably. After that, I started... After two fights in the UFC. After two fights in the UFC, I started feeling that people were reaching me out, calling me, texting me, wanting to meet me. Yeah, after two fights. Of course. Once you become a world champion, it's different. You defend your belt.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's different. You were the fighter of the year last year, 2024. I think that it was Pereira. They gave it to Pereira.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Why do I see 2024 as fighter of the year? You. Because many people gave it to me, but they gave it to Alex Pereira also.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Not friends. I met him in Australia. We meet each other for the first time there in Sydney. I went there to watch my brother fight. Yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Not always, but in this event specifically, may I watch it. But normally I watch a lot of fights because I have a promotion in Spain, and now I started to watch a lot of fights because I want to discover new talents.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
and so business you're thinking from the business side yeah got it okay so this card that's coming up which fight are you excited about this this uh weekend's card uh i'm excited i'm excited about uh we have in the fight car walk against diego lopez we have paddy pimblitt against mike chandler uh jai rodriguez is like either if he's fighting or not no one gives a
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Bryce Mitchell, the same thing with John Silva. I don't know what to say. He's an upcoming fighter. And that fight, I don't know. Danny, you get the same thing.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
He needs to win. Who, Chandler? No, no, no, Paddy. He's fighting with a veteran. He needs to win. And hopefully he wins because May, who knows, May in the future we face each other. It could be a great fight. You and Paddy. Me and Paddy.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
He said some stupid shit about Georgia, about my country. He said something like, now I understand why Russia is throwing bombs to Georgia. And like, bro, you never live in a situation where your country had a war. I lived there in 2008. Don't joke with that.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
If you are raising kids, you've got to take them to the school. You've got to take them to different activities. So if I have to spend between every activity an hour in the traffic, that's a lot of time for me. So at the end of the day, I've got to have to take something from them to optimize that time. So... I look at it from time-wise. And you're very active with your kids?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Are you very involved? My kid, my boy, he doesn't live with me. My girl, she's eight months old, but we are planning everything now. Where are we going to live? Where are we going to rise to? How are we going to do it? So I'm planning. I'm 20 years old. And you're just getting started. I'm getting started.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Everyone. Why is that? And how are you going to do it? You win the medals in the training. You just go to collect them in the fight. That's what Michael would talk about. Yeah, but at the end of the day, he was playing basketball. Now I'm fighting.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Okay, don't say Canelo because I wouldn't fight him because... He's somebody you look up to. Yeah, he inspired me so much. At some point, I said I would fight him. No, no, no, I wouldn't. If I prepare for six months, like only boxing, I don't do anything about wrestling, about, I don't know, knees, elbows, grappling, whatever. Only boxing? Bro, put me whoever you want in front of me.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Whoever, whoever. And I hear a lot of guys talking about like boxers. No, Ilya, he has a good boxing before MMA, but he has nothing to do with me in the boxing ring. I'm like, listen, you don't have anything to do with me outside, inside, whatever you want. Like what you want to do. Even if you want to play a chess match, I beat you. Why do you think that? Why do you believe that?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Because I know how good I am in boxing. I train every day boxing, every day. That's part of my life. I spar with pro boxers. I learn boxing. I don't know. I consider myself that I can box with anyone. Just give me six months. Only boxing preparation. I'm not even telling you like three because I need to switch so many things that I do it because of MMA, like the stance, the movement.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's a little bit different for the boxing of MMA than for boxing, boxing.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's not like, take me out from the equation. I don't think that I saw anyone in MMA that I was like, he has a great boxing career. No one. It doesn't matter from... Conor? You see, he was one of those, but even Conor, he had a great boxing for MMA. Very, I don't know, MMA stance. In boxing, you can't go like that because you are going to suffer. But he had better boxing than a lot of people.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
yeah but max you know boxing is about simple moments you can do so much moments and switch the standards uh switch the stands all the time that's not boxing in boxing you have to be like very disciplined all the time under very protected you have to select all your combinations you have to move your head
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think he's retired. You think he's retired? Yeah, I think so. He's not going to come back. What do you think happened to him? You think it's the money and the success? I think that he doesn't have the motivation anymore. He done great things in the sport, but he doesn't have the motivation. He got, I think, a lot of money. He's spending also a lot of money. So I don't know.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And you have to be very good to administrate your energy, you know, because you have 12 rounds. And that's a completely different movie.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
This is what I told you. You ask me, I feel that I have the advantage in everything. This is what I truly believe you... Me personally, I would ask him, like, what's your favorite submission? Whatever. I don't know. Dark show. I'm going to submit you with that.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I take him close to Khabib. I will submit him closer to Khabib. You'll submit him in front of Khabib? Yeah. I'd take him. Khabib used to take people and he'd take them down and talk to Dana. I would do it to Khabib. I would take him, bah. And then talk to Khabib. Talk to Khabib. Khabib, I have to do it. What would you tell him? No, I wasn't. I wasn't.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Like, all the respect, but this is how I felt. I felt that I submit him with the D'Arce. Like, which one is your favorite? D'Arce. So this part, you're not joking. Whatever he tells you, you agree to it.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
This one, I'm not joking. Like, I truly believe that I submit him with the D'Arce or whatever. I don't know. Tell me, which one's your favorite? Don't tell me a hell hook or some bullshit submissions that, I don't know.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And if he says that... Yeah, I go for that. No problem. It's going to be even more entertaining for me. Yeah. The people didn't realize that my background... comes from wrestling, from the ground game. Actually, I grew up with wrestling and with BJJ. And I developed my skills when I was 20 years old in boxing game. But my best skills, yeah, are on the ground.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It is. It is. But that's why God's everywhere. He's everywhere. God's everywhere.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
That's why I told you we were the first people to go into the gym. We were taking our phones, watching the videos, I don't know, drills in BJJ, for example. To take someone's back. And we were drilling that the whole day, all the drilling. Single legs, double legs, I don't know, the cage work, boxing, kickboxing, elbows, knees, I don't know, whatever.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know him personally. I don't know him. You guys have never met? Never.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
How can we develop our cardio or strength or power or whatever? I was like so obsessed with everything. I was working all day every day. That was my obsession all the time.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
at that point become very difficult to find a fight for me because in spain at that point we didn't even had any events you know so i was like listen i have to do something because no one is going to come to me and touch my dog how would you understand 18 okay so 10 years ago yeah 18 okay so 18 2015 yeah
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's UFC, it's... Conor and John Jones, Joseph Pierre, all, yeah. Those, I think.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Okay, got it. So, I'm like... I have to do something. I need a plan. Demetrius Johnson. Yeah. So you need a plan. So I started to talk to myself. I'm like, what can I do? And at that point, Gustafsson, Alexander Gustafsson, was fighting for the belt against John Jones. And that guy was training in Sweden in All-Stars Gym at that time. And that was the most recognized like gym in Europe.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And I'm like, I have to go there because I'm sure that he's managers or someone is going to- In Sweden, in Stockholm. So I'm like, I need to go there because I know that someone is going to see me. And the only thing I need is I need the opportunity. I need a fight. I need to prove my skills, right?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Then I had the second problem that I didn't have enough money to travel because you need money to go from Spain to Sweden and stay there, I don't know, for two weeks, three weeks, whatever. So I did, I don't know, crazy things when I was 18 years old. I went to that place.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I went to my first training, I finished the training, and the guy who was representing everyone at that time, and actually he's the manager of Kamzat also, at this time Kamzat Shimaev, he came to me and he was like, do you have someone that is representing you? And I'm like, no. Who did he see you train? Who did he see you spar with? That guy.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, this guy saw me in the training with everyone in the mat. Oh, but there's not a fight that he saw you. He's just watching you on the mat. Exactly. He saw me training with everyone.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think we did a little bit of boxing. We mixed it up. We did something in the ground. We did something in the striking. And once I finished the training, he came to me and he asked me, like, do you have a manager? I'm like, no. Do you want me to represent you? And I'm like, this is why I came here. And in three weeks... He called me, no, in one week he called me like, I have a fight for you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And I started my journey there and the rest is history. Who was your first fight? I started to fight in Finland, my first international fight. Who was it with? It was Mika, I don't remember his... Can you look this up? I'm actually really curious. So this is... Watch that fight. I finished him in the first round.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Then after that one, in three and a half weeks, he called me and he gave me the fight for the Cage Warriors World Championship. So this is not UFC yet? No, no, no, no, no. This is not UFC. Look, no. Mika, there's Mika. I had four fights and I went to Sweden. And he gave me that fight. Mika Hamalainen.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
After that fight, he called me in three and a half weeks or four weeks. Look, I fought April 28th. Six weeks later. Yeah, something like that. Then I fought June 16th for the Cage Warriors World Championship. Then I was signed by Brave. I did two fights, and I get the call from the UFC.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
party drinking beers what I did in the last two weeks I trained twice a day I don't know I'm an active fighter I defend my belt a couple of months ago when was the last time he fought he fought I don't know three years ago four years ago He's not in shape.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, I get the call. Oh, that's COVID. Yeah, that's COVID. I was sick. And they called me and they told me, do you want to fight in the UFC in eight days? And I'm like, of course. I had to cut like 12 kilos. Kilos. Kilos. I don't know how much it's like, 25 pounds. Yeah, that's a lot. It's a lot. In eight days, that's a lot. Holy shit. I had to fight at 4 p.m.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
local time in Abu Dhabi because they were like... 26 pounds you had to lose at this weight? Yeah, in eight days.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's like dehydration. That's tough. That's a lot on that body. That's a lot. I'm 245, if I lose 26 pounds is a lot, but. I had to spend a day in the hospital because the UFC is asking you for a lot of. Medical. Medicals. Then I had to go, I spent a day to get my visa. I don't know, I had in reality five days. So crazy.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
The Jai Herbert? Yes. That has a huge story behind that. I have a huge story behind that fight because I was supposed to fight in January against Mozart of Leuven. He pulled out from the fight. Then I came back to home and they called me. But in reality, I was prepared. I was prepared. But it was a different weight class. I went up to 155. That fight is not in my weight class. It's in lightweight.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
So that's not 145.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
you always have a choose got it and then after that I fall with your friend rice Mitchell and then Josh yeah we wish him best of the lucky you being sincere what you're being sincere or you're joking no no no no yeah I wish him all the best I hope the best wins yeah what a story Everything started from Sweden in reality. Wow. You went to Sweden. This is what I used to say to everyone.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
If you want to have something that you never had, you have to do things that you never did. Move your ass.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't follow that sport, but who is the number one for you?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
28.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
If you go to a different picture, Rob, go to images. And let me ask you, do you really think that they only drink whey proteins to get this big?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's not even a healthy life.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Hopefully, hopefully. You're waiting for that phone call, huh? I'm waiting. I'm waiting. I'm waiting. I'm very excited, to be honest. Either if it's Charles or Islam, it's going to be a huge one. And I know that the fans are going to enjoy it a lot.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Great ground game and striking nothing special for me. In the ground, he's dangerous. He has the most submissions in the UFC history, I think so. Him? Yeah, I think so. He's a dangerous guy in the ground, but I think that he's the kind of guy that when he feels that you are more powerful, he gives up. He gives up like fast.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
My answer is going to be always me. Every day, all day, I'm going to beat that guy. No matter when and where. But if you ask him, he's going to tell you probably the same. So you know how it works. This is a sport. No one's going to give up.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't think that he's the kind of fighter where he finds like some... Adversity. How do you say that? Adversary? Yeah, adversary that he keeps going, keeps going, keeps going. No, he's like, he gives up. Ten losses. Ten. It's not one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
The one that's first place right now behind... I think that he needs to build himself a little bit more, but if the UFC tells me that... You're good with that as well. Yeah, it's for the belt. You'll take anything right now as long as you're going to get the chance.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
No.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
We Georgians have a great relationship with Armenians. Yeah. I have a lot of friends.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Armenians.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
They all are our neighbors.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Even if he wants to take the money and all that, I don't know. I'm against it. to kill the people, always. I'm always going to vote for the peace, always. So I don't know that deep about who, but something that I know from my history, from my livings, are that they are, the Russians are,
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Putin, let's say like the politicians that run Russia because nothing against the people, regular people from Russia. I'm talking about the politicians. They don't give a damn about anyone. Yeah. In Georgia, I was living in 2008. I saw what they were doing to my people. So... Russians, Russians. Russians, yeah, Russians. I don't know. Dangerous people. Dangerous people. Interesting.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, of course. Of course. He inspired a lot of fighters. He changed the sport. He did so many great things for the sport. You can't say like anything different about that. But he like little by little, he changed his values. He changed everything. Like right now, what does he represent? I always used to say like drugs, alcohol, bad lifestyle. But who gives a fuck?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
And I think that you can't trust at all in Russians. And I repeat, I'm not talking about the regular people. I'm talking about the politicians. It's It's crazy, I don't know.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
They're from... Dagestan. Dagestan. That's part of, they are Russians. Right. They are Russian. And when they start to attack any place in the world, the first people they send to the war is like Russians, Chechnyans, the people they have, you're not going to see any Russian Russian in a war. Always going to see the people they have. Call yourself a Russian, but wait for my call.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Why do you think that is? Because they use them. Of course, they use them. They give them a position, a place. But at some point, maybe I'm going to ask you to do something for me. That's how it works everywhere in the world. You do something for someone, you want something back. This is how it works. It's crazy. I don't know. What are your thoughts from here, from the United States?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
What do you think about what's going on in Ukraine?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think that you can't judge a whole country because of one person. I don't disagree. No, I don't disagree. I think you're right. That goes to Iran. Because we don't like Zelensky, we are not supporting the Ukrainians, and we are going to say that the Russians are not the... Que invaden. How do you say that in English? Que invaden. Invadores. Invadores. Humberto, can you say that to me?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know if I'm even saying correctly. Invaders. Invaders. Invaders. They are the invaders. 100% they are the invaders. Right. Do you think the opposite, that they are not?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Do you really think that if Putin wants to join NATO, he couldn't do that? Yeah, because they said... So why he's not a part of NATO? You think they would want him to join NATO? Of course they don't want it.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
If they want Putin to join NATO, why not? You think NATO wants Putin to join NATO? At this point... I wish that no. I wish that no, because I don't want to have... Listen, the history my family has with Russia, I'm like, with the people that runs that country, it's like, I don't give a damn about them, you know? I'm all against Putin.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Okay, and what do you want to tell me?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Okay.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
The Rockefellers? No.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Of course. Of course. I always try to develop my skills. I always try to have more abilities because at the end of the day, you skills make you rich, right? Not the money. Because if you don't have the skills, you don't have the right mentality, you are poor. So I all the time try to develop my skills and my abilities.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
So you believe that they do it because of the business? Of course. Okay. Okay. Not Putin, Putin is here. Putin believes. I think that it goes a little bit more far than only sell weapons. For who though, for Putin? Yeah, for Putin and for the United States and for everyone that has the weapons to sell.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah, but I'm not very agree with that because I don't think that he is looking only for the weapons, you know what I mean? How many people dies in the war? I don't know, 200,000? How much weapons they need? I don't know. How much money is that in total? How much money did they spend in the weapons in the war with Ukraine?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
A little pimple. A little pimple?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Uh, okay. Let's switch that a little bit. It's not, it's not like I want to be better than someone. It's like if someone could do it, I want to do it also. And if no one did it, I want to be the first one to do it. So this is the mental, it's not to look up to some, uh, to look down to someone. Right. It's not because of that.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's, I want to experience that, that, that also how it feels to be the number one guy.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Thank you. Thank you.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
You're waiting for that phone call, huh? I'm waiting. I'm very excited, to be honest. Sport is sport. We athletes, I respect all of that. But there are lines that you can't cross.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I will read this book.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
So if Islam fights in Russia, you wouldn't fight there? I wouldn't fight in Russia. Why is that? Because there's so much place in the world that I could fight where I would fight in Russia. I would love to fight in the United States. But not in Russia. Not in Russia. Actually, the only place I would fight is in the United States or in Spain. Got it.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't want it, but if the destiny wants me to go or I have to go for some reasons, I would go, but not fighting, not putting a show in Russia and working there. I don't know. You're so interesting, bro.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know. Maybe sometimes it happens to me also that I switch my mentality. Sometimes I switch my thoughts. Maybe, but at this point right now, you're asking me, this is my answer. I don't know. Right now I wouldn't fight in Russia. Okay.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It's not only fight-wise. It's also business-wise. That's why I try to develop all the time my skills, you know, because at some point I'm going to retire and I'm going to make a living from something else. Got it. How much longer do you think you'll be fighting? You're 28 now. Till I enjoy it, to be honest. Before I used to be like, maybe when I'm 30 or 32.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Let's leave it there. I don't like that conversation. I don't know where I said it, and it became viral that I said it. In reality, I don't care about that. You know what I mean? I said it, but God bless everyone. Peace for everyone. A place for everyone. I agree.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
You're competitive, which is okay. Always, always. I was born like that. Thank you very much. It's been my pleasure.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Truly enjoyed it. I learned a lot of things. My man.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
But now, till I enjoy, I will be active.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think 32.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Exactly. I have a new motivation, new division. I have a lot of guys there, so why not?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I have watched some of them. I watched with Henry, yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
Yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
He's saying that I don't deserve it. But he's saying from a fighter's perspective. But as a promoter, it works a little bit different. So now you're thinking Dana. Yeah.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
That will be a making a step back, I think.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I think so also. Look, Henry Cejudo, you watch him in the video. He moved up. He fought for the second belt. Conor, he fought for the second belt. George St. Pierre, he fought for the second belt. I can mention you so many names that fought for that second belt. Why not me? that had that opportunity to fight for the next weight class world championship for the belt.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
So right now with where you're at, are you wanting your next to be that? I'm sure that that's going to happen. I'm fighting for the belt. Okay. So right now you gave the belt back at 140. I gave it because I didn't want to hold the division. Right. This is what I did. I could hold it for a year, year and a half, but I didn't because at the end...
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I knew that I wouldn't fight again in 145, but I could have the position where I would say, like, listen, I'm holding the belt until you give me the chance to fight for the next weight class belt. But I'm like, I'm locating the belt because they gave me their word. That was all. Easy. Who is the ranking right now in 155? The number one is Charles Oliveira. And the champion is Islam.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
My handshake is better than anything I ever saw. It's right here.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
I don't know who is the number two.
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
There's no way that I have to fight to the number one contender. I have to fight directly for the belt. How soon do you think that would happen? Personally, I don't know. I hope in summer, maybe in September. I don't know. Whenever it happens, it's going to be. How does it normally happen?
PBD Podcast
"I'll Submit Him" – Ilia Topuria CALLS OUT Islam Makhachev, OPENS UP On Putin & Russia | PBD Podcast | Ep. 566
It never works like that. They call you, they tell you like, I need you in this day, in this place.