Ilia Topuria to Islam Makhachev: 'You | MMA News
After knocking out arguably the 2 best featherweights in UFC historical past, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Ilia Topuria opted to transfer up to the light-weight division.
Topuria received the 145-pound title by knocking out Volkanovski within the second spherical at UFC 298 in February 2024. He defended the title by knocking out Holloway at UFC 308 final October. He relinquished the title to attempt changing into a two-division UFC champion however light-weight titleholder Islam Makhachev would not assume Topuria deserves a 155-pound title struggle.
Topuria claims the struggle promotion promised him a title bout in his subsequent struggle, and “El Matador” will wait as long because it takes to get it.
“I would like to fight with Islam, that’s for sure. I would like to fight him,” mentioned Topuria on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. “I wouldn’t fight for a No. 1 contender fight. If Islam decides he doesn’t want to fight me, I don’t care. I’ll sit until you’re going to have to fight me. You say that you are a world champion, that you’re going to keep dominating the division, all that. I’m here. You can’t keep avoiding me all the time.
“I do not assume they’d put me on the sidelines, as a result of I vacated the belt as a result of I informed them I would not struggle at 145 again, however I obtained a promise that I might struggle for the title in my subsequent struggle. So, how a lot time you’ll stop me from combating?”
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