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Strickland brings anarchy to UFC 312 | 08:17
He has been backed to become a UFC superstar by no less than Alexander Volkanovski — but Colby Thicknesse is so concerned about getting revenge for his great mate and training partner it will see him get slept at UFC 312 on Sunday.
This is the message from hyped UFC debutant Aleks Topuria, who is now readying to throw down against 25-year-old Thicknesse almost a year to the day since his little brother, Ilia Topuria, went and took Volk’s UFC featherweight crown by KO.
UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | UFC middleweight king Dricus du Plessis is headed back Down Under for yet another title defence, with the South African set to face Sean Strickland in a blockbuster UFC 312 headliner in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Volkanovski not only backed Thicknesse to win on debut, or become Australia’s next fight “superstar”, but eventually join both himself and Robert Whittaker on the nation’s shortlist of UFC champions.
Topuria, however, sees things differently, boldly declaring he will finish the hyped Wollongong prospect before his brother – who he assists as a training partner and coach — then goes and does the same to UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev later this year.
Wonderfully, both Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria will be working as cornermen for the Qudos Bank Arena fight, and could themselves be involved in a blockbuster rematch as soon as April.
Already in interviews with Australian media this week, Thicknesse has said he is determined to get revenge for his mate in Sunday’s showdown, while also stressing that Aleks Topuria “is not his brother, and I’m going out there to show it”.
“So he’s focused on revenge,” Topuria told Fox Sports Australia this week, kicking back at the UFC fighter hotel in Sydney.
“But I’m focused on my story, you know what I mean?
“That’s the difference between us.
“He’s focused on other things, I’m focused on getting that finish.
“And getting the finish for nobody else, for me.
“I don’t want to sound selfish.
“But this Sunday I’m fighting for my legacy … that’s the difference.”
Asked what advantages his rival might have with Volkanovski, who is renowned for his superior fight IQ, shouting instructions from cageside, Topuria continued: “I don’t care.
“That’s the answer.
“I like Volkanovski as a man.
“As a fighter, he was a rival of my brother.
“And in the moment, we get the finish.
“I respect him.
“But to me, nothing changes.
“And even if something does change for Colby, I don’t care.”
Volkanovski, meanwhile, stressed that Thicknesse, who has been his training partner for close to 10 years, would have no issues despite stepping in on just 14 days notice for the injured Cody Haddon.
He also said the debutant, while nowhere near his prime, already displays all those attributes that took him to not only UFC gold, but for a time the crown of best MMA fighter on the planet.
“So for me now, it’s unreal to now see all Colby’s hard work paying off,” Volkanovski said.
“He’s been training alongside me from a very young age, about 12, and then by 16 had become one of my main training partners.
“So it’s been years of him putting his body on the line for this.
“Years getting ready for Sunday.”
So as for how far his Freestyle MMA teammate can go?
“Colby has all the skills required to be elite,” Volkanovski stressed.
“Incredibly fit, too.
“But when you think of all those traits that have made me different to the rest, the heart, the ‘Never Give Up’ attitude, the work ethic, all the good stuff … he’s got it, too.
“With me, I fight and am straight back in the gym next day.
“Colby’s the same.
“That’s what makes him ready for this.
“Yes, it’s a big step up.
“But I don’t just see him as being somebody in the UFC, I see him with the potential to be a superstar.
“A world champion.
“And he’s nowhere near his prime yet.
“But he has everything he needs.”
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Volkanovski added that while he liked the storyline between the two camps, it would not have any impact on his fighter like Topuria was suggesting.
“The story, is more for you media guys and the fans,” he said. “It won’t put any pressure on Colby at all.”
So as for what Topuria sees in the fighter stepping up on a fortnight’s notice to challenge him?
“I know what everybody knows,” he shrugged.
“I know what I see in YouTube videos.
“I don’t know about anything else and I don’t care about anything else.
“I came here for Cody Haddon, but he’s injured.
“I wish him a quick recovery.
“But now with Colby, nothing changes.
“I want to finish him.
“This is what I know about him.”
UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | UFC middleweight king Dricus du Plessis is headed back Down Under for yet another title defence, with the South African set to face Sean Strickland in a blockbuster UFC 312 headliner in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
In recent days, there has been plenty of internet talk regarding exactly who Ilia Topuria will fight next – with the shortlist appearing to be a Volkanovski rematch at UFC 314 in April or Makhachev superfight later in the year.
When asked what clarity he could give for his brother and longtime training partner, Aleks laughed: “Right now, I know as much as you.
“Or maybe a little more.
“But the truth is, we don’t know who is next.
“There are a few names on the table.
“So let’s see.”
So as for how a Makhachev fight goes?
“Islam is a great fighter who deserves to be pound for pound number one,” Topuria said. “He fights all the time, wins all the time so what can I say?
“That fight with my brother, it’s going to be a very good one.
“Very intense.
“But Ilia gets the knockout.
“I know his power.
“At lightweight, Islam is a tough guy.
“But Ilia will find the space to connect that hand.
“And when Ilia connects with him … he sleeps.”
