What happens when perfection becomes a burden? For Ilia Topuria, who holds an immaculate record of sixteen wins and no losses, the pressure of staying undefeated might be taking it’s toll. His surprising call out of Charles Oliveira has raised eyebrows across the MMA world. But as former double champion Daniel Cormier reveals, there’s more to this decision than meets the eye, and it could all come down to the mental strain of greatness.

Speaking with Ben Askren, Daniel Cormier didn’t hold back on his thoughts about Topuria’s mindset. “It’s not like muscle fatigue, it’s mental fatigue,” he said, shedding light on what could be haunting the featherweight star. “You have to be so up to do what he did to Max Holloway, and to do what he did to Volkanovski.”

Cormier’s admiration for ‘El Matador’ Topuria’s accomplishments was clear. “You don’t knock out Max Holloway. He knocked out Volkanovski, you don’t do those things back to back….I don’t care what people tell you, the only ones that believe that he would do what he did was Ilia Topuria and his team.” But Cormier also pointed out that back to back victories over two of the most dominant names in the division come at a price.

Is Topuria’s choice to call out Oliveria, a fighter no longer at the top of the lightweight division, a way of managing that mental load? According to Cormier, it just might be.

A fighter who seems to know Ilia Topuria’s struggle

If anyone can understand what the Georgian is going through, it’s Daniel Cormier. The former champ champ didn’t just dominate in one division, he made history by capturing titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight. He’s faced the grueling climb, the unrelenting pressure of defending his belts, and the toll it takes to stay at the top.

Cormier’s perspective adds weight to his comments on Topuria. “Now I went from fighting to established veteran stars, people that sell pay-per-view, so now I got to fight a guy that’s on the upswing,” he explained, likening the 27 year olds current situation to his own battles against rising contenders. “A guy that’s on the rise, a guy that truly is who I was only a couple fights ago.”

Topuria’s call out of Oliveira could be about finding balance. Fighting Volkanovski and Holloway isn’t just physically draining, it’s mentally exhausting. Oliveira, with his mix of veteran experience and vulnerabilities, represents a shift. He’s dangerous for sure, but he doesn’t seem to carry the same unrelenting pressure as the legends Topuria has already captured.

Oliveira’s story somehow offers an interesting parallel to El Matador’s. Once the lightweight division’s king, the Brazilian endured both physical and mental battles during his reign. Is Topuira, even at the height of his powers, seeing a reflection of himself in Oliveira’s struggles?

What do you think? Is Ilia Topuria playing it smart by pacing himself, or is this call out a sign of a deeper challenge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!