Demetrious Johnson: Demetrious Johnson eager to spar Ilia Topuria, pokes fun at ‘El Matador’ for his Mickey Mouse comments during Joe Rogan Podcast

Ilia Topuria is one of the biggest names in MMA right now, with the Spaniard having conquered the UFC's 145-pound division in blistering fashion. He has now moved to lightweight where he will compete for the vacant title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.

Former UFC champion and all-time MMA legend, Demetrious Johnson, recently shared his thoughts on the Oliveira vs. Topuria clash during an appearance on Tim Welch's podcast, RedHawk Recap.

Johnson competed at flyweight for most of his career, while also having several fights at bantamweight. During the podcast episode, he expressed his interest in having a sparring session with 'El Matador'.

Topuria is one of the most devastating strikers in MMA right now, having become the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway when they fought at UFC 308. While talking to Welch, he broke down Topuria's style and how he would try to nullify his striking arsenal.

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Johnson also poked fun at the 28-year-old for his comments about the former flyweight champion's moniker of 'Mighty Mouse'. During Topuria's appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience in April, he slammed Johnson's choice of nickname, which evidently irked the American slightly.

During his aforementioned appearance on Welch's podcast, Johnson said:

"What would [Topuria] do in the clinch? Because I know he's going to go body-body. [If] he goes body, I go elbow to the [head]. That's where I'm like, I want to see what [Topuria] would do. Hopefully I get a Mighty training with him and put his a** in the clinch myself. But you know, he doesn't want to talk to Mickey Mouse!"

Check out Demetrious Johnson's comments on Ilia Topuria below (46:50):

UFC lightweights sent concerning message by Ilia Topuria's coach

Ilia Topuria holds six finishes in his eight UFC fights, with his previous two bouts resulting in brutal knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, two of the best featherweights in MMA history.

Topuria has proved himself to hold showstopping power, but according to his performance coach, Jesus Gallo, fans having sent the best of him yet. Ahead of his 155-pound title fight against Charles Oliveira, Gallo was interviewed by Alvaro Colmenero, where he said:

"He's going to have the most punching power at lightweight. I have no doubt about it. I don't think there is anyone at that weight that has the power he has. So in respect of that, we're not losing anything... Ilia, I believe will be the most powerful fighter at 155 pounds. I don't have the slightest doubt."

Check out Ilia Topuria's coach discuss his power below:

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Liam is a MMA and Boxing writer at Sportskeeda. His journey into MMA journalism began with a high school diploma in 2017, but his passion for writing led him to diverse experiences, including internships in research and writing roles and accounting work.

Liam's fascination with MMA was sparked by Conor McGregor, with Dustin Poirier's bout against Dan Hooker in 2020 sealing his love for the sport. Poirier remains Liam's favorite fighter, whom he admires for his attitude, fighting style, and persona both inside and outside the cage. He is an advocate for the removal of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA.

Liam strives to report precise and relevant information by cross-checking his work, reaching out to relevant sources for comments, and adhering to Sportskeeda's guidelines. His work has been recognized on popular MMA platforms, with his article headlines featuring in YouTube recaps and appearing onscreen during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing cricket, practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, music, and reading.

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Edited by Tejas Rathi