Ilia Topuria has been offered the chance to train with one of boxing’s biggest legends.
The former UFC featherweight champion recently vacated his title and moved up to lightweight.
‘El Matador’ also cut ties with his long-time coaches, Jorge and Agustin Climent, ahead of his 155lb title fight with Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28.
Now, former four-weight boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr. has offered to help Ilia Topuria win a second UFC belt.
- READ MORE: Ilia Topuria narrowly avoided brutal KO before landing highlight reel finish in lightweight debut
Roy Jones Jr. eyes UFC 317 role
Roy Jones Jr. has had success training boxers since his career at the top came to an end.
The 56-year-old believes his skills would transition to MMA, where he could be of use to Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC 317.
“I would make a lot of difference [to Ilia Topuria’s camp for Charles Oliveira] because I teach how to get the most out of the striking, how to stay set while you’re doing it,” Jones Jr. said in a recent interview.
“Because in MMA you gotta always be set because guys can take your legs out, but the way I fight you always stay set, so I think what I teach would be advantageous to anybody who chooses to indulge in it and get what I really teach.
“Roy understands the mechanics of all boxing, all fighting, not just boxing, all arts of fighting.
“Roy understands the mechanics of MMA totally well and totally understands what’s necessary and what’s not necessary to make you a better fighter.”
Ilia Topuria questioned by UFC Hall of Famer
Ilia Topuria’s ‘odd’ coaching change ahead of UFC 317 has been questioned by many.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier recently shared his thoughts on the bold move and how it could benefit Charles Oliveira.
“Ilia Topuria wants to fight Islam Makhachev but needs to get through Charles Oliveira first, especially when we’re hearing that he and his team are kind of going in separate directions,” ‘DC’ said.
“Just because of the schedule, they said there’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…
“If I’m Ilia, I’m still just using those guys,” Cormier continued. “Because even if I have to do my training camp with someone else, I know that those guys know me so well, that if they can get with me for a week, two weeks, we’re still so aligned, especially if there’s no bad blood…
“This is the team that got [Ilia] from a young, young man, to being [undefeated] and a UFC champion. Beating the two greatest featherweights of all time! So to have that familiarity is very important to an athlete…to me, that’s a little bit odd.”