Quickly-to-be former featherweight kingpin, Ilia Topuria has boldly claimed he’s already the most effective on provide on the light-weight restrict forward of his anticipated transfer to the division this summer time — sustaining no one on the weight class can match as much as his “degree.
Topuria, who retains the featherweight crown at the moment, will vacate the belt subsequent month at UFC 315, with former-foe, Alexander Volkanovski set to return in a bid to crown a brand new champion reverse the surging Brazilian star, Diego Lopes.
And defending his belt on only one event, unbeaten finisher, Ilia Topuria turned in a shocking third spherical knockout win over Hawaiian veteran, Max Holloway in the principle occasion of UFC 308 again in October — turning into the primary fighter to cease the symbolic BMF champion with strikes in fight sports activities.
Looking a right away undisputed title surge in opposition to the pound-for-pound primary, Islam Makhachev subsequent, Georgian-Spaniard star, Topuria is assured of touchdown a UFC 317 matchup for the title as quickly as June throughout Worldwide Combat Week.
Ilia Topuria manufacturers himself light-weight champion already
Nevertheless, talking with Males’s Well being Espana this weekend amid his sidelining, Topuria has boldly claimed he ought to already been thought of the most effective of the most effective on the light-weight restrict forward of his divisional return.
“I am the lightweight world champion,” Ilia Topuria mentioned. “I’m clear about it, otherwise I won’t change [weight]. I won’t sign up for a competition without knowing if I’m going to win or not… No one is at my level.”
Ilia Topuria: "I am the lightweight world champion. I'm clear about it, otherwise I won't change [weight].I won't sign up for a competition without knowing if I'm going to win or not… No one is at my level." 
(by way of. @menshealthESP) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/yPMrWMgLIf
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 24, 2025
For Makhachev, the Russian star has remained tight lipped on a pairing with Topuria in his return to motion. Himself most lately headlining UFC 311 again in January, stopping short-notice substitute, Renato Moicano with a gap spherical D’Arce choke to defend his belt for the fourth time.
And in a single day, nevertheless, Makhachev was provided one other summer time return throughout Worldwide Combat Week — this time reverse former-foe, Charles Oliveira.
“The UFC has a lot of guys who talk a big game,” Charles Oliveira mentioned. “I can talk because I’ve been here for almost 15 years… I want to fight during International Fight Week, [against] (Islam) Makhachev too… UFC, let’s make this happen. This is the fight everyone wants to see.”
