{"id":38515,"date":"2026-05-27T14:49:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Ilia-Topuria-claims-he-chooses-not-to-wrestle-I-really-want-to-give-fans-a-show-201336"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:49:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:49:26","slug":"ilia-topuria-claims-he-chooses-not-to-wrestle-i-really-want-to-give-fans-a-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/ilia-topuria-claims-he-chooses-not-to-wrestle-i-really-want-to-give-fans-a-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilia Topuria claims he chooses not to wrestle: \u2018I really want to give fans a show\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n

Ilia
\nTopuria<\/a> vows to have a \u201cpure striking fight\u201d against Justin
\nGaethje<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Topuria (17-0) puts his lightweight title on the line against
\ninterim champion Gaethje (27-5) at
\nUFC White House<\/a> on June 14. While Topuria hails from a
\nwrestling background, \u201cEl Matador\u201d has established himself as a
\nlethal knockout artist over the years. <\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Topuria claims he chooses striking over wrestling to entertain
\nfans. The undefeated Georgian-Spaniard defended his featherweight
\ntitle by handing Max
\nHolloway<\/a> his only knockout loss ever in 2024. Topuria believes
\nhe could have had his way with Holloway on the ground if he wanted.
\nHowever, Topuria believes a submission win over Holloway wouldn\u2019t
\nhave been as exciting as knocking him out cold was. Topuria had
\neven used Holloway\u2019s iconic point down, inviting him to a slugfest
\nin the opening seconds of the fight. However, \u201cBlessed\u201d declined
\nthe offer, perhaps wisely. <\/p>\n

In the Name of Entertainment<\/h2>\n

Topuria believes that, like with Holloway, he can also impose his
\nwill over Gaethje on the ground if he wants. However, Topuria
\npromises to keep it completely on the feet for the sake of fans.
\nTopuria also has a counter strategy if Gaethje chooses to wrestle
\nhim. Regardless of how it plays out, Topuria is confident that he
\nwill walk away with a knockout win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I want it, of course, I take him down and do whatever I want
\nwith him,\u201d Topuria said on . \u201cBut I really want to give the fans a show,
\nthe entertaining part. With Max also, I could take him down,
\ncontrol him in the ground, submit him on the ground. But it
\nwouldn\u2019t have been as exciting as it was. So that\u2019s the same thing
\nI\u2019m planning to do with Justin. It\u2019s going to be a pure striking
\nfight, at least from my side. If he tries to take me down, then we
\nhave different plans for that also. But anyways, I going to end up
\nknocking him out.\u201d <\/p>\n