Ilia Topuria’s ambitions to compete in a potential ‘champ vs. champ’ showdown have intensified in recent weeks, but a popular MMA analyst doesn’t think now is the time for such a matchup.
“El Matador” has continually expressed his eagerness to ascend a division and challenge the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, in an exciting fight. However, before Topuria looks ahead, he is poised to make the first defense of his featherweight title against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308, scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Topuria’s excitement was palpable during a recent live stream on Instagram, where he enthusiastically answered a fan’s question about his ability to defeat Makhachev. The 27-year-old Spaniard confidently asserted that he could easily overcome Makhachev, stating that it would be the fight he would pursue after handling Holloway.
Ilia Topuria says he hopes to fight Islam Makhachev after Max Holloway
“Of course [I think I can beat Islam]… Makhachev real soon. Hope Makhachev will be next after this fight.”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 6, 2024
However, Josh Thomson contends that “El Matador” is overly ambitious and should first concentrate on facing challengers in the 145-pound division…
Thompson Advises Topuria To Focus On Featherweight Before Considering Move-Up
During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, “Punk” delved into Topuria’s thoughts on moving up to the 155-pound division for a potential matchup with Makhachev. Thompson openly dismissed the featherweight champion’s ambitions, urging him to prioritize defending his title against Holloway first.
“Younger guys like Ilia Topuria going, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to fight so and so up here,’” Thomson said. “I’m like, dude, you haven’t defended your title one time. You beat the guy coming off of a head-kick knockout. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. How about you defend it against Max, the fight I’m really excited for?”
Thompson further emphasized that Topuria should concentrate on solidifying his standing in the featherweight division before calling out others. He also mentioned that “El Matador” might be seeking these high-profile matchups primarily for social media popularity.
“Ilia Topuria needs to clear out the division. He’s fought a lot of guys in there, but there are still many opponents for him to face. He shouldn’t even be mentioning that; the UFC shouldn’t be entertaining that. This whole thing, I think, is about social media—swipe right, swipe left, up, down, real fast. I need self-gratification right now; that’s what they’re looking for: ‘what can I do to make the most money?’”
Topuria captured the 145-pound title with a stunning second-round knockout of former champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He remains undefeated in his seven Octagon appearances, with five of those victories coming by way of stoppage.
- Read More: Ilia Topuria On Why He Will Turn Down Conor McGregor Fight If Offered: ‘We Have Lost An Idol’
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