Ilia Topuria is making a significant change ahead of his attempt to claim a second UFC title.
Sources close to the situation have confirmed that the former featherweight champion has ended his coaching relationship with longtime trainers Jorge and Augustin Climent. This decision comes ahead of his vacant lightweight championship main event fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28.
It`s important to note that the split is amicable. The separation stems from practical, logistical reasons, primarily due to busy schedules and living in different cities making the previous arrangement difficult to maintain. There is no animosity between Topuria and the Climent brothers.
Topuria recently vacated his UFC featherweight title to transition to the lightweight division, stating that the weight cut had become increasingly difficult. He had previously hoped for a significant fight against Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound championship, but Makhachev is now moving up to welterweight to challenge the new champion, Jack Della Maddalena, later this year.
With Makhachev vacating the lightweight championship, Topuria and Oliveira will headline the UFC`s annual International Fight Week pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
