UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria believes he has the skills necessary to beat Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
This weekend all eyes turn to the UFC 308 main event of Ilia “El Matador” Topuria v Max “Blessed” Holloway. Undefeated Featherweight champion Topuria (15-0-0) won the belt at UFC 298 in February when he knocked out long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Though Volkanovski wanted an immediate rematch, Topuria wanted to look elsewhere. Despite claiming he wanted to welcome a fresh face to a title shot, he landed on former champion Max Holloway.
Former Featherweight and current BMF champion Max Holloway aims to continue his recent tirade at UFC 308. Max last fought Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje at UFC 300, a fight Holloway won by 5th-round KO to claim the BMF belt.
It was arguably the most impressive UFC knockout to date with Holloway putting “The Highlight” to sleep with one second left on the clock. Holloway aims to steal the show again by handing “El Matador” his first loss.
However, Ilia Topuria seems to be looking beyond Holloway and the whole Featherweight division.
Ilia Topuria Believes He Can Dethrone Islam Makhachev
At the UFC 308 media day, Topuria welcomed the opportunity to move up to 155 lbs and face Islam Makhachev.
He said:
“If they call me and they want me to move up to the lightweight division, I will be okay with that; move up and be the first one to submit Islam Makhachev. If they want me to keep defending this belt in the featherweight division, I’m okay with that too so let’s leave that decision to the UFC.”
In a separate interview with ABC Spain Ilia seemed to fancy his chances against the Lightweight champion. Topuria believes he understands Islam’s style enough that he could make Makhachev “Suffer”.
Stating:
“For Islam, I represent a style that he knows would beat him… When I was little, I participated in Greco-Roman wrestling championships, and I have shared many championships with many Dagestanis. I know how their thought process works, I know their level of technique, their level of strength, I know what bothers them and what doesn’t bother them, I know them very well… So, even if it seems like a very difficult fight, I would make Islam suffer a lot, [maybe] too much.”
Whilst Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria is stylistically a great fight, Topuria has his hands full this weekend. If Holloway presents a similar performance to what was seen at UFC 300, it could be a long night for Ilia.
However, we have seen Topuria’s other-worldly power countless times. Max Holloway is yet to be knocked out in his career, but if anyone has the power to change that, it’s Ilia Topria.
Featured image credits to
Embed from Getty Images
