UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria returns to action in October for the main event of UFC 308, and it’s safe to say that the veteran MMA commentator was blown away by his latest training footage.
Joe Rogan is certainly no stranger to singing the praises of UFC superstars, but even the veteran commentator couldn’t help but be overawed by the hand speed of the Spanish-Georgian sensation.
Joe Rogan waxes lyrical over Ilia Topuria’s hand speed from viral video
During his latest JRE podcast episode with Andrew Huberman, the conversation turned to the best boxers of all time and how they conduct themselves in sparring, with Joe Rogan quick to point out that outstanding hand speed is certainly not limited to the squared circle.
“You’re not just fighting when you’re sparring, you are downloading data points for a real fight,” explained Rogan, before bringing up the recent viral video from Ilia Topuria’s training camp.
“Ilia Topuria is one of the absolute best fighters in the world, he’s the current UFC featherweight champion and the dude is just f***** phenomenal.
“But one of the things that’s phenomenal about him is his technique – his technique is so perfect like there’s no fat, no wasted movement; so when the opportunity presents itself, everything is so fast because the technique is streamlined.”
The video in question, posted to his YouTube channel, shows ‘El Matador’ working the pads with his coach, with the featherweight king showcasing some truly unbelievable hand speed as he racked up five to six punches in a single second.
“Look at how he hits the pads, and [Floyd] Mayweather is a great example of that as well, Ilia’s got some of the best hands in the sport, current UFC champion who knocked out Volkanovski, who is maybe the greatest of all time.
“See how he’s moving his head when the guy throws punches, just slipping slightly and the speed man – the f***** speed of it, look at that hand speed, f***** incredible… If you know how difficult that is to do, and you can do it that fast – those are like five, six punches a second.”
Topuria needs to keep those hands sharp as he prepares to face one of the best boxers on the entire UFC roster, Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway, scheduled for October 26 in the main event of UFC 308.
“He’s got just phenomenal technique, see how those punches – they’re not even talking, when he’s throwing the mitts at his head, there’s no communication; he just sees that hand coming towards him and he’s ducking [underneath].”
Ilia Topuria is already eying his next featherweight title contender
Despite having one of the most lethal men in the entire world in his crosshairs for UFC 308, Ilia Topuria is already plotting out his next few title defenses – with one surging contender having recently piqued his attention.
That man is none other than 25-6 Brazilian Diego Lopes, who is scheduled to face the #3 ranked Brian Ortega in a few weeks’ time at UFC 306.
“I love the attitude Diego Lopes brings,” Topuria told MMA Junkie earlier this week, adding: “He’s always respectful with, I love the attitude he has with me.
“If he wins, maybe he’s next in line… To be honest, I don’t know – maybe it’s [Alexander] Volkanovski, maybe its Diego Lopes, maybe it’s Brian Ortega but I don’t care.
“It’s going to be worse for them when they get the call, because then they’re going to have to face me – it’ll be a difficult night for them.”
Lopes vs Ortega is set for September 14 at The Sphere, with Topuria vs Holloway scheduled for October 26 in Abu Dhabi.