Stay Tuned!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Plans Sports Topuria

Ilia Topuria plans to make Islam Makhachev wait for lightweight title fight if welterweight move doesn’t work out

Ilia Topuria plans to make Islam Makhachev wait for lightweight title fight if welterweight move doesn’t work out

Ilia Topuria has no plans on giving Islam Makhachev a bout right away if things don’t pan out for the soon-to-be former UFC lightweight champion at 170 pounds.

Ilia Topuria Islam Makhachev

Makhachev will be vacating the UFC Lightweight Championship the moment Topuria’s fight with Charles Oliveira begins. Topuria and Oliveira will be fighting for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317 on June 28. Makhachev is moving on to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Topuria had been hoping to face Makhachev for the UFC lightweight gold, and he has a message for the top pound-for-pound fighter if he can’t defeat Maddalena.

RELATED: ILIA TOPURIA CALLS ISLAM MAKHACHEV A ‘COWARD’ FOR AVOIDING UFC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Topuria vs. Makhachev at Lightweight? Not So Fast

If Jack Della Maddalena proves to be too much for Islam Makhachev to handle, many would expect the bruiser from Dagestan to get a chance to regain the lightweight gold. If Ilia Topuria happens to be the 155-pound ruler at that point, “El Matador” believes Makhachev would have to earn a title shot (quotes transcribed by MMAFighting).

“You know from the beginning, he wanted to give the impression that he had some sort of decision [to make],” Topuria said during a press conference to promote his upcoming fight. “He also said about a week ago ‘My move up to welterweight isn’t going to matter because I’m not planning on vacating my title.’ You remember that right? And I had said before that, I didn’t move up to lightweight to ask anyone for anything and that I was the one in charge.

“So who got their way, who did what they said? As always, him or me? So after this fight when I have the belt, he can get in line, which is a long one and someone’s eyes will be shining.”

If that situation arises in the future, then it would be some tit for tat being played on Topuria’s part. After all, Makhachev and his team insisted that Topuria should have a No. 1 contender bout for him to receive a lightweight title shot, given he’s only proven himself at featherweight. We’ll see what ultimately transpires following Topuria vs. Oliveira and Maddalena vs. Makhachev.

Read More

Avatar

machotech

About Author

2 Comments

  1. Avatar

    backlink platform for WordPress

    May 19, 2025

    288382 253678 I discovered your blog website on google and check a couple of of your early posts. Continue to keep up the extremely very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading far more from you later on! 193273

  2. Avatar

    ole777

    May 19, 2025

    125086 78092Dead pent subject matter, thanks for entropy. 551804

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may also like

Eagles’ Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox Back Nick Sirianni to Continue as HC Despite Rumors
Eagles' Jason Sports

Eagles’ Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox Back Nick Sirianni to Continue as HC Despite Rumors

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 17, 2024 Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s job security has been called
Rory McIlroy Pitches Global ‘Champions League’ Format for Golf amid LIV Negotiations
McIlroy Pitches Sports

Rory McIlroy Pitches Global ‘Champions League’ Format for Golf amid LIV Negotiations

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 17, 2024 Luke Walker/Getty Images Rory McIlroy pitched a new vision for the sport of golf