Aleksandre Topuria is making his personal means on this planet nevertheless it’s unattainable to not discover his well-known final title because the brother of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Now the 29-year-old prospect might be going to listen to it much more in his debut at UFC 312 after getting a brand new opponent with ties to Alexander Volkanovski.
On Wednesday, UFC officers introduced that Cody Haddon is out of his battle at UFC 312 resulting from damage however changing him is undefeated Australian prospect Colby Thicknesse, who’s a longtime coaching associate of Volkanovski.
The truth is, Volkanovski is planning to nook Thicknesse in his octagon debut in Australia when he faces Topuria.
“How good is that this? Very excited for Colby,” Volkanovski stated together with the announcement. “There’s not a extra deserving particular person than Colby Thicknesse. He’s in all probability the toughest employee I do know on the planet. He’s acquired coronary heart. He’s acquired the self-discipline. Nobody’s extra dedicated than this man.”
Volkanovski praised Thicknesse as one in every of his essential coaching companions for many of his profession and their friendship dates again when the UFC newcomer was nonetheless simply a teen. Now Volkanovski has the chance to assist Thicknesse prepare for a short-notice alternative towards Topuria in his native Australia.
Topuria enters the UFC with a 5-1 file together with three victories in a row all by knockout.
The brand new battle between Topuria and Thicknesse stays on the UFC 312 prelims with the occasion scheduled to happen on Feb. 8 from Sydney, Australia.
The primary occasion that evening sees middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis tackle Sean Strickland in a rematch whereas Zhang Weili places her strawweight title on the road towards Tatiana Suarez within the co-main occasion.
