List of All Articles with Tag 'li'

Ilia Topuria has a question for you. Actually, he has a few. “Do you know how good I am?” is the first. Initially, I’m not quite sure whether I should answer on your behalf. He asks again. “Do you know how good I am?” To my relief, he quickly follows up. “I can submit him, I can knock him out. I can do with him whatever I want.” The German-born Georgian, fighting out of Spain, is not actually talking about Josh Emmett – whom he faces in a UFC Fight Night main event on Saturday. Rather, he is reflecting on his win against Bryce Mitchell. In December, Topuria submitted the submission specialist to the surprise of many, and that is why he asks: “Do you know how good I am?” It is also why he asks: “Do you know how dangerous my takedowns are, how dangerous my ground game is?” I had entered our interview presuming I would be asking the questions, but by this point, the unbeaten featherweight might have overtaken me. “I don’t care what people say about me,” he adds. “People were talking like: ‘He’s good on the ground’. I’ve been a black belt since I was 20 years old. For me, there’s no surprise if I submit Bryce Mitchell or anyone in my division. I know that I can finish anyone. Brazilian jiu-jitsu grappling is my world.” As the conversation turns to Emmett, the next obstacle in Topuria’s way as he hones in on a title shot, the 26-year-old has even more questions. “With Josh, people say: ‘His right hand is so dangerous.’ Do you know how dangerous my right hand is? Do you know how dangerous my left hand is?” The answers to all of Topuria’s questions are found fairly easily, so any frustration he has towards those fans who have missed them is understandable. Twelve of the Georgian’s 13 professional wins have coming via stoppage – eight by submission and four by knockout. Nine months before Topuria entered the featherweight top 10 with his arm-triangle choke against Mitchell, he knocked out Jai Herbert on the Briton’s home soil in London. After surviving a knockdown from a picture-perfect head kick, Topuria melted Herbert with a singing left hook to the liver and a molten right hand to the chin. While that bout took place at lightweight, it registered as a message to all UFC featherweight contenders when Topuria later dropped into the division. And, now done asking questions, Topuria has a message for you: “Shut up. Just watch the fight and enjoy.” Topuria will certainly enjoy his clash with Emmett in Jacksonville this weekend, as he looks to hand the American, 38, a second straight defeat, four months after Emmett lost to Yair Rodriguez with the interim featherweight belt on the line. “When I’m in the ring, I’m really happy and really thankful to God,” Topuria tells The Independent, “because I asked him to put me in this position. It was my goal to become a UFC champion, and this is the way I have to pass. When I go inside the cage, I feel very happy to have that opportunity, because I have the chance to fight for my dreams, and right now there are a lot of people in hospitals, [fighting] for their lives. “I’m working for my happiness every day. When I wake up, I’m not happy just for something I did in the past; I can’t live off that for my whole life. I’m just focused on myself and achieving my goals. I don’t care about anyone else – just me, my family, and my friends. That’s it.” Among the small group dearest to Topuria is his three-year-old son – already a “man”, in his father’s words. “He knows [what I do], he knows,” Topuria says. “He calls me every day, supporting me. He speaks perfectly. He’s a man. I don’t know if he’s gonna do MMA. If that’s the call [he makes], I’ll support him in anything he chooses in this life. “If he wants to fight, I’m gonna support him; if he wants to... I don’t know... study, I’m gonna support him. If it makes him happy, I don’t care. Go for that, because in this life, people are always looking for success. What’s success for me? Success is when you’re happy with yourself, that’s it.” In that sense, Topuria is already a very successful man. Winning the UFC featherweight title would only reaffirm that fact. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Topuria vs Emmett live stream: How to watch UFC Fight Night online and on TV this weekend Conor McGregor complains as his team lose yet again on The Ultimate Fighter How Ciryl Gane’s Jon Jones dream turned into a nightmare Topuria vs Emmett and full UFC Fight Night card this weekend What time does Topuria vs Emmett start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch Topuria vs Emmett online and on TV this weekend

The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly pulled out of the three-team Kristaps Porzingis trade for one important reason regarding their return, Malcolm Brogdon.At the 11th hour, the Los Angeles Clippers-involved three-team trade that would've landed them Malcolm Brogdon from the Boston Celtics a...

The three-team Kristaps Porzingis trade has fallen apart. While initially reported that all teams were moving on, the Celtics and Wizards are still talking.Kristaps Porzingis is still on the Washington Wizards. At least for now.After reports that the veteran big was on the move to the Boston...

The Los Angeles Clippers are addressing one of the roster's biggest weakness in the three-team trade that brings Malcolm Brogdon to LA.The Los Angeles Clippers got involved in the Kristaps Porzingis trade to make it a three-team deal between LA, Washington and Boston. In return, the Clipper...

The Reds are the hottest team in the game. They have a few veterans that could be shipped away to other contenders before the trade deadline.Typically, at the MLB Trade Deadline, there are sellers and buyers. Sellers are usually rebuilding teams that have older players to trade to a contending t...

In the Longhorns' final season in the Big 12, Texas football could rely on freshmen to step into prominent roles in the last chance for a conference title.The future of the Texas Longhorns athletic department is looking toward greener pastures. Just eight months from now, they will be geari...

Gareth Bale explains why MLS is different to major European league & insists Lionel Messi will enjoy Inter Miami as a result.

Patriots are hoping to land both Dalvin Cook and DeAndre Hopkins

The Washington Wizards are nearing a three-team trade which will send Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics.The trade, which has yet to be finalized, involves the Los Angeles Clippers as well and will involve draft picks.Washington, with a new front office in place, is clearly in sell mod...

A Saudi Arabian football official has warned Liverpool that Mohamed Salah could be the next Saudi Pro League target.

Multiple NBA rumors have been reported on the Mavericks seeking a win-now role player in exchange for the No. 10 pick. Now they may be working with Boston.According to Tim Cato and John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Mavericks are looking at getting Grant Williams this offseason. Williams is a p...

Ever wonder what Anthony Bennett is doing? Here's your answer.