No head kick, no body kick. What does Ilia Topuria bring to UFC 317 to take down Oliveira?

The UFC world is buzzing as the highly anticipated showdown between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira draws closer. Set for UFC 317, this clash pits the undefeated featherweight king Topuria against one of the most dangerous lightweights in history. But the question many analysts are asking is intriguing: with no head kicks, no body kicks, and a style that rarely leans on traditional MMA kicking techniques, what exactly does Ilia Topuria bring to the table that could allow him to defeat a submission master like Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira?

The answer lies in Topuria’s unique toolkit—a blend of boxing precision, wrestling defense, mental pressure, and positional dominance that may be just what’s needed to derail Oliveira’s chaos-based offense.

Ilia Topuria’s Game: Precision Boxing Over Flashy Strikes

Unlike many modern UFC stars who mix in flashy head kicks, spinning attacks, and wild combinations, Ilia Topuria sticks to the fundamentals of boxing. His game is built around tight combinations, elite head movement, and a laser-sharp right hand that can shut the lights out in a second.

Topuria’s boxing is clean and efficient, not flashy. He doesn’t waste energy or throw unnecessary shots. When he enters the pocket, he does so with intent to hurt and finish.

Against a striker who often leaves openings like Oliveira, this discipline becomes deadly. While Oliveira might throw wild knees and looping hooks, Topuria counters with crisp, straight punches down the middle—the kind that stun and drop opponents.

“I don’t need a head kick. My fists will do the talking,” Topuria once told reporters when asked about his minimalist striking.

And so far, his fists have spoken volumes.

Ground Control and Takedown Defense: The Silent Threat

While Oliveira’s jiu-jitsu is legendary, Topuria isn’t afraid of the ground. In fact, he’s a legitimate black belt himself, and has never been submitted.

More importantly, Topuria rarely ends up on the mat in disadvantageous positions. His takedown defense is superb—built from years of wrestling and grappling training. He doesn’t sprawl dramatically; instead, he uses angles, underhooks, and balance to stay upright.

And when he does go to the ground, he controls the position with high fight IQ. Against Bryce Mitchell—a grappling phenom—Topuria neutralized every takedown and then submitted him in round two.

This proves a critical point: Topuria isn’t afraid to go to the ground with Oliveira, but he’s smart enough not to play into Charles’s traps.

“Oliveira is dangerous when you’re emotional. I’m not emotional—I’m surgical,” Topuria said recently on a UFC Embedded episode.

Pressure, Not Panic: Topuria’s Psychological Advantage

One of the most under-discussed elements of Ilia Topuria’s game is his unshakable composure. Unlike many opponents who get drawn into Oliveira’s chaos, Topuria stays calm—even when tagged or pressured.

Oliveira thrives in fights that become messy, where both fighters are hurt, and one mistake changes everything. In those wild exchanges, most of Oliveira’s victims make errors—jumping into submissions or dropping their hands.

Topuria’s greatest weapon might be his mental control under fire.

He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t get reckless. He sticks to the game plan. And that’s exactly how fighters like Islam Makhachev and Paul Felder broke Oliveira’s rhythm and dominated him.

Expect Topuria to bring calculated pressure, walking Charles down behind a high guard, forcing him to throw, and then punishing the openings without overextending.

Explosive Counterstriking: The KO Setup

Another reason why kicks aren’t necessary for Topuria is his elite counterpunching.

While Oliveira launches combinations with flair, he often leaves his chin exposed, especially in transitions. Topuria excels at timing looping shots, slipping slightly to the outside, and firing short, devastating counters.

Just ask Josh Emmett or Ryan Hall. They came in aggressive, and Topuria put them to sleep with clean shots they didn’t see coming.

In fact, Ilia’s KO power is deceptive. He’s not wild. He’s precise. When he lands flush, the fight is over—no head kick required.

If Oliveira makes the mistake of charging in without defense (as he’s done in many fights), expect Topuria to land one of those timed missiles and change the course of the bout instantly.

The Weight Factor: Will Power Translate at Lightweight?

A major question heading into UFC 317 is whether Topuria’s featherweight power and speed will translate into lightweight effectiveness.

Thus far, in interviews and training footage, Topuria looks stronger than ever. Reports from his camp say he’s gained functional mass without losing speed, and that his cardio has improved due to less weight-cut stress.

Oliveira, while bigger, is also not the most durable at 155. He’s been dropped by Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, and Paul Felder.

If Topuria brings even 80% of his featherweight knockout power, he might not need size to do damage. All he needs is one clean connection.

Topuria’s Anti-Jiu-Jitsu Plan: Avoid the Scramble

Against Oliveira, grappling is always dangerous. The Brazilian can latch onto a neck or an arm in milliseconds. But Topuria’s style is position-first. He doesn’t engage in chaotic scrambles. He avoids head-in takedowns, and instead works from posture and balance.

When on the ground, Topuria prefers top control, not submission attempts. This “wrestle-safe” approach can frustrate submission artists who rely on transitions.

Expect Topuria to:

• Stuff takedowns and push Oliveira to the cage

• Use elbows and short punches in the clinch

• Stand back up if things get too risky on the mat

This disciplined anti-BJJ style worked wonders for Islam Makhachev, and it may work again here—especially with Topuria’s refusal to overcommit.

No Kicks, No Problem: Efficiency Wins in MMA

The idea that a fighter must throw head or body kicks to win is outdated. In fact, many of the UFC’s best strikers—Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and even early McGregor—relied more on boxing than full kick arsenals.

Topuria proves that if your hands are fast, your movement is tight, and your pressure is relentless, you can beat kickers without ever throwing one yourself.

His approach is clean, compact, and built to dissect chaos with order.

Final Prediction: Can Topuria Really Beat Oliveira Without Kicks?

Absolutely.

If Topuria maintains his composure, sticks to his precision boxing, and avoids wild exchanges or grappling scrambles, he has all the tools needed to beat Oliveira—and potentially stop him in devastating fashion.

The absence of head and body kicks isn’t a weakness; it’s a calculated focus. Topuria doesn’t need them. He’s refined his weapons and mastered their use.

Topuria vs. Oliveira at UFC 317 won’t be about who has more tools—it’ll be about who uses their tools more effectively.

And if history is any indication, Ilia Topuria doesn’t miss often.