ILIA TOPURIA completed an epic body transformation at the official UFC 317 weigh-ins.
The former king of the featherweights will bid to claim the vacant lightweight title early on Sunday morning in the main event of the International Fight Week card in Las Vegas.
Ilia Topuria returns to the octagon this weekend in the main event of UFC 317[/caption]
Topuri will be fighting for only the second time at lightweight in the UFC[/caption]
He looked lean and mean on the scales this evening after completing a dramatic body transformation[/caption]
Topuria, 28, announced his move up to 155lbs in February after growing tired of the gruelling cut down to 145lbs.
The Georgian-born Spaniard has been sporting a much more muscle-bound frame over the last few months.
And he looked in incredible shape as he hit the scales at the official weigh-ins at the UFC Apex this afternoon.
‘El Matador’ looked lean and mean as he hit the lightweight championship mark of 155lbs for the first time.
Topuria used to cut over a STONE in weight to make the featherweight title fight limit, and the gruelling cut played a big role in his decision to leave the belt he won last February.
He told ESPN Deportes: “In that moment [when cutting weight], I’m so low.
“I feel terrible… I didn’t want to suffer anymore…
“It’s like living in the desert, and I wanted to live on the beach.”
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Iia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will vie for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317[/caption]
Standing between Topuria and a second UFC title is former lightweight champion and fan favourite Charles Oliveira.
Topuria has immense respect for ‘Do Bronx’ but plans to brutally knock him out to fulfil his dream of becoming a two-division champion.
He said: “Charles is a great fighter.
“I’d say he’s a legendary fighter, one of the few still active in the UFC.
“But the truth is that his style fits perfectly with mine to put him to sleep in the first round.
“Because he has no mobility, he doesn’t move.”
