In a new interview, Topuria’s coach confirms plans to move to lightweight and explains why ‘El Matador’ is abandoning the 145 pound division where he is champion.
Ilia Topuria is serious about moving up to lightweight rather than sticking around at featherweight and defending his belt.
That’s according to his coach Jorge Climent, who confirmed earlier comments from “El Matador” that he wanted to fight No. 1 contender Charles Oliveira to lock up a shot at the 155 pound belt. This isn’t just an ego-driven push for a second belt, says Climent. Topuria simply can’t keep making 145 pounds.
“The real thing is he has cut weight, he does a lot of times, and it’s very hard every time we do it,” Climent told Submission Radio. “He don’t want to do this any more. And that’s why I want to go up to the next weight class, because he thinks his normal weight is in that weight class.”
“In the beginning, Ilia was fighting at 135 and he was young,” he continued. “And your body is changing, when you are 20, you have a body. When you are 25, you have another. And when you are 30, you have another. And always, you are muscular. We decided because he wants to feel better. Sometimes I see Ilia at 185 pounds, and he need to be 145. We do a very big weight cut.”
BREAKING: Per Ilia Topuria’s Coach Jorge Climent, Ilia WILL NOT be defending the 145 belt (possibly vacating) AND WILL NOT be fighting Alex Volkanovski next!
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— Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio) December 12, 2024
A move to lightweight means no rematch against Alexander Volkanovski. Team Topuria appears to have been told that there’s no immediate title fight at 155 waiting for Ilia either, which may mean no double-champ situation.
“I suppose if he goes to to another weight class, the belt is going to be vacant,” Climent said. “I don’t know what is going to happen if he don’t want to defend it. He left it to [UFC] in this way … I don’t think they give the opportunity to fight directly for the belt. But he wants to fight with the [top] ranking guys to come for the belt.”
That means Charles Oliveira, but Climent said they were open to Dustin Poirier or any other top lightweight that could launch them into a title fight with a win.
“I think the, the best opportunity is fight with the number one top ranking,” he said. “But if that is not an option, why not [Poirier]? I think Ilia is prepared to fight with everybody who wants to fight in May. And what destiny says, we accept, because we can go with everybody.”
What do you think of Topuria’s decision to jump to lightweight, Maniacs? Let us know in the comments below.