It would seem that UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria has several high-profile options for this next bout, whether it is at 155-lb or 145-lb.
Ilia Topuria Discusses Desire To Move Up In Weight
Although Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will have his hands full cornering his brother, who is making his promotional debut, at UFC 312, the Spaniard still has his eyes set on an excursion to the lightweight division sometime in the near future. He also has hopes of facing off with current lightweight king Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC).
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Ilia Topuria voiced his wanting to take on the dominant Russian, but acknowledges that who he battles next is up to the UFC, even if that’s a rematch with former champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“This is something that I want to do, the UFC knows that (about going up against Makhachev), but at the end of the day, this is something that the UFC decide(s),” Ilia Topuria said. “They know how to run the business. They have a lot of experience. So, if they tell me they want me to keep defending the belt in the 145-pound division, maybe I will do that. But if they let me go up to 155, I will do that also and be very glad.”
“Yeah, if I stay in 145 no one else deserves the fight more than him (Volkanovski)”, Ilia Topuria continued. “I have to give him the rematch because he deserves that. It’s not something that I decide. He owns his shot. So, if I stay at 145, I will do that. I don’t want to do that again because I like Volk, and I know what’s going to happen if we face each other again.”
Ilia Topuria Exudes Confidence in Potential Volkanovski Runback
At UFC 298, Topuria accomplished one of the biggest upsets in featherweight history when he knocked out the previous five-time defending title holder in Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC). He later went on that October to stop Max Holloway at UFC 308 to score his first defense, becoming the first fighter to finish “Blessed” with strikes.
It is because of these legendary feats that Ilia Topuria believes he has what it takes to defeat “The Great” a second time if they lock horns, stating that he is a new breed of competitor. He also puts further emphasis on a not-too-distant jump up to lightweight in a much-anticipated clash with Makhachev.
“Of course, it’s the same thing. I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts. I bring a different type of game that he’s used to,” Ilia Topuria stated. “So, I know what’s going to happen. Maybe the next time, instead of knocking him out, I will submit him. Maybe I’m going to change that to a different type of clip.”
“Me, personally, what I want to do is move up to 155 because I know by fact that I can become a two-weight world champion,” he mentioned. “Islam, he’s a great fighter, he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound for the people. For me, it’s me. I’m the best fighter in the world, so I know I can do with him whatever I want to do because I know I’m much better than him.”