Quickly-to-be former featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has been dominated out of a title eliminator on the light-weight restrict in his eventual divisional debut — together with his staff claiming it’s fast title struggle for undisputed gold or bust for the finisher from the get-go.
Topuria, who is about to vacate the undisputed featherweight championship, will see the title up for grabs at UFC 314, with former-foe, Alexander Volkanovski set to tackle surging Brazilian challenger, Diego Lopes in a showdown for the crown as quickly as April.
And linked with a large light-weight title siege within the fast aftermath of the affirmation of his divisional transfer, in response to reviews final week, the Georgian-Spaniard has been linked with a spectacular debut at UFC 317 this summer time in opposition to pound-for-pound primary, Islam Makhachev.
Nevertheless, over the course of the weekend, the light-weight champion’s Russian supervisor claimed Ilia Topuria needs to be pressured right into a title eliminator first on the light-weight restrict — suggesting he tackle former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira initially.
“Topuria vs Dustin/Charles contender fight, to prove he’s legit lightweight,” Rizvan Magomedov posted on his X account. “So we don’t have to defeat another ‘small featherweight’ We need big fight that make sense for everyone. We already gave chances to featherweight champ that was reigning for long time.”
Topuria vs Dustin/Charles contender struggle, to show he’s legit light-weight. So we don’t must defeat one other ‘small featherweight’ We want large struggle that make sense for everybody.
We already gave probabilities to featherweight champ that was reigning for very long time.
— Rizvan Magomedov (@Rizvan_RM) February 20, 2025
Nevertheless, throughout an interview with TASS, Topuria’s staff performed down the necessity for a title eliminator in his light-weight debut, claiming he’s solely targeted on a title cost in opposition to Topuria instantly.
Ilia Topuria hopeful of fast title struggle at Islam Makhachev this 12 months
“Ilia (Topuria) wants a championship fight. He will not fight for the status of a contender with (Arman) Tsarukyan or anyone else.”
