UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has a massive first title defense against Max Holloway ahead of him this weekend at UFC 308, but he’s also got his eye on a potential super-fight with lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in the future, and he believes he has the skill-set to defeat him.
“If they call me and they want me to move up to the lightweight division, I will be okay with that; move up and be the first one to submit Islam Makhachev,” Topuria said at the UFC 308 media day. “If they want me to keep defending this belt in the featherweight division, I’m okay with that too so let’s leave that decision to the UFC.”
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with ABC Spain, Topuria explained more about why he thinks he’s the man to end Makhachev’s undefeated record.
“For Islam, I represent a style that he knows would beat him… When I was little, I participated in Greco-Roman wrestling championships, and I have shared many championships with many Dagestanis.
“I know how their thought process works, I know their level of technique, their level of strength, I know what bothers them and what doesn’t bother them, I know them very well… So, even if it seems like a very difficult fight, I would make Islam suffer a lot, [maybe] too much.”
Topuria’s reasoning and confidence certainly whets the appetite for that match-up, but he’d be wise not to overlook the threat that Holloway presents to his championship status, while former champ Alexander Volkanovski is waiting expectantly on the sidelines for a rematch if he does emerge victorious on Saturday night.
