UFC legend questions timing of Ilia Topuria’s split from longtime coaches

The recent news of Ilia Topuria parting ways with his coaches has left one UFC Hall of Famer a bit puzzled.

Topuria is set for a massive fight in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28. The former UFC Featherweight Champion will attempt to capture gold at 155 pounds. “El Matador” will do battle with Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship in Las Vegas.

As Topuria gears up for a chance to win UFC gold in a second weight class, what does one renowned legend of the fight game have to say about the departure of his coaches?

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Daniel Cormier Finds Timing of Topuria’s Coaching Change “Odd”

In a new video posted on his YouTube channel,. Daniel Cormier said he’s unsure how much the coaching change will impact Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC 317 (via MMAMania.com).

“Ilia Topuria wants to fight Islam but needs to get through Charles Oliveira first, especially when we are hearing that he and his team are kind of going in separate directions,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Just because of the schedule, they said it’s no bad blood. I really don’t know how, at this point, a month before what will be your opportunity to win a second title, how much effect that will have on Team Topuria.”

Cormier went on to say he’s unsure about the timing of Topuria switching things up in his camp so drastically.

“A lot of times we see athletes switch teams as they get down later into the career — this man is still in the heart of his career,” Cormier said. “So there is something to the idea that we have grown so much that we can’t come together and collaborate on what is going to be one of the biggest moments of his entire fight career, especially knowing those guys have trained him since he was like 15 years old. To me, that’s a little bit odd, but it is what it is.”

Jorge Climent, now Topuria’s former coach, told “Submission Radio” that “El Matador” went to live in Madrid and he has his own gym. Climent said Topuria wants all of the “energy” to be on him for his fight camps going forward.