American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez says the book on beating Ilia Topuria starts with one commandment: don’t box him.
“Stay out of boxing range, one million percent,” Mendez said on the Know Time YouTube channel. “He’s got the best boxing in the business, in MMA… His boxing is real good. Real good.”
Why Mendez Is So High on Topuria
Topuria’s rise has been fueled by ruthless shot selection and airtight defense. Over the last two years, the Georgian-Spanish star knocked out Max Holloway in his first (and only) featherweight title defense, then stopped Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight crown becoming the first undefeated fighter to win UFC titles in multiple divisions.