A UFC middleweight has questioned Ilia Topuria’s path to two-division glory. Topuria (17-0), who is now a two-division UFC champion and the current lightweight champion, made his promotional debut against Youssef Zalal on short notice in 2020 and cruised to a unanimous decision victory.
To prove that he really is championship material, “El Matador” then achieved five more victories in a row. He defeated opponents such as Bryce Mitchell, Josh Emmett and Jai Herbert.
In 2024, Topuria challenged Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 for the Featherweight Championship and took out “The Great” in round 2 of the title fight to become the new 145-pound champion.
Later in 2024, Topuria defended his title against Max Holloway at UFC 308 and scored a TKO victory in the third round, registering his first successful title defense.
Then the Georgian-Spaniard vacated his throne, moved up to 155 pounds and fought Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship at UFC 317. Once again, “El Matador” emerged victorious, defeating the Brazilian Cold in Round 1, just as he predicted.
Ilia Topuria is next expected to defend his throne against interim champion Justin Gaethje on June 14.
UFC middleweight Shara Magomedov recently opined that Ilia Topuria was fighting for the title after facing four or five questionable opponents.
Bullet” told Metammaplus that Topuria fought an “exhausted” Charles Oliveira, “not the same as before” Max Holloway, and an out-of-prime Alexander Volkanovski:
‘He is [Ilia Topuria] a good fighter in his own right, but if you look at how he got the belt, there were four or five fights against questionable opponents. And when he fought against really serious fighters, they were already exhausted. Charles Oliveira was exhausted, I think. Max Holloway was a tough opponent, but he’s not the same as before. He has suffered a lot of damage in his career and has slowed down a bit. Alexander Volkanovski was also not at the same level as before.”
Check out Shara Magomedov’s comments about Ilia Topuria below:
Islam Makhachev teases superfight with Ilia Topuria
Earlier today, newly minted UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who has yet to make the first defense of his 170-pound throne, teased a superfight with Ilia Topuria. Makhachev told Telegraf Sport:
“I like this idea, if the UFC wants… I know a lot of MMA fans want this fight, and I’m ready for it.”
Watch Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
Topuria also wants to fight Makhachev and wouldn’t mind giving up his 155-pound championship to move up the ranks and take on the P4P king for a third UFC title.
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