Ilia Topuria may only just have made the first defense of his featherweight title in October, but it seems he’s already talking about moving up to lightweight.
“We need to talk about it and take a look at my future, but for me, it’s very clear how I want to do it,” Topuria said on Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE. “I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam [Makhachev] is the champion fighting in January and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira.
“I’d like to move up a weight class. Since Islam (Makhachev) fights in January, I’d like to face the division’s top contender, Charles Oliveira.”
When asked to clarify that could mean he relinquishes the 145lb title, Topuria confirmed that could be the case.
“Maybe there’s a change coming,” Topuria said. “Yes, very likely.”
The 27-year-old Topuria went on to explain why he is considering making that bold move, while also dropping a further bombshell by revealing his plan to bow out of the sport in just three years time.
“I’m 27. I hope to be out by 30,” Topuria said. “…Right now, in my division I no longer have the motivation to defend the belt anymore. Now I want to move up a category and we’ll see how everything goes.”
It’s always good to have big ambitions, particularly for someone as talented as Topuria, who has already KO’d the featherweight’s top two stars in Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway this year.
That being said, strategically his plan seems questionable, particularly his claim that he’d be willing to give up the 145lb title. Most stars in his position, including the aforementioned Volkanovski and Holloway both held on to their titles while trying to challenging for the 155lb belt in a bid to become a two-division champion.
That’s a feat few UFC fighters have ever managed, and it also comes with the assurance that if the attempt is unsuccessful then they still have their previous title to fall back on.
And so given that Topuria plans to retire relatively early it wouldn’t make sense to gamble on giving up his title at this stage, particularly when the road to becoming a champion at 155lbs requires beating both Oliveira and Makhachev.
At the very least it would seem like making another title defense at 145lbs first would be sensible, and could strengthen his claim to get an immediate shot at the lightweight title rather than risking having to face a No.1 contender first.
Topuria is clearly someone who has total confidence in his own ability though, so it remains to be seen what path he’ll choose.
