Unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria insists he’s nonetheless plotting a light-weight transfer subsequent, and has a bunch of names he needs to face in his return to the division — together with former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier — professing his “love” for the Lafayette striker.
Topuria, the present undisputed featherweight gold holder, has been sidelined since UFC 308, the place he grew to become the primary fighter to cease common-foe, Max Holloway with strikes in fight sports activities — lodging a shocking third spherical knockout win in Abu Dhabi.
And initially of final yr, Georgian-Spaniard finisher, Topuria landed the undisputed featherweight crown with a shocking second spherical stoppage win over former pound-for-pound primary, Alexander Volkanovski.
Nonetheless, amid hyperlinks to an enormous tremendous battle in opposition to the present light-weight kingpin, Islam Makhachev subsequent — probably as quickly as UFC 314 in April, Topuria has additionally named potential fights in opposition to Poirier and ex-champion, Charles Oliveira on his radar.
“At this point, just imagine a fight between me and – I love that dog, Dustin Poirier,” Ilia Topuria mentioned on Fullsend Podcast. “He’s a f*cking fighter. He goes in and he fights til’ he dies. You’re gonna have that man in entrance of you combating and attempt to take your head off. That’s a really thrilling battle for me and I believe for the followers additionally.
“Arman [Tsarukyan] needs to build himself a little bit morel,” Ilia Topuria defined. “Islam is a great fight. Charles [Oliveira] is a great fight. Justin Gaethje is a great fight. I can mention to you so many great fights.”
Dustin Poirier describes Ilia Topuria as a fellow “warrior”
Reacting to Topuria’s feedback, Louisianan veteran, Poirier — who’s poised for a summer time return to the Octagon, in what he has teased will come as his retirement outing, described the previous as a “warrior”.
“A warrior knows one when he sees one, nothing but respect,” Dustin Poirier posted on his official X account.
