Ilia Topuria doesn’t see any threats to his throne.
UFC 308 will be the first Featherweight title defense for “El Matador” when he’s challenged by former divisional champion and current Baddest Motherf*cker (BMF) champion, Max Holloway, on Oct. 26, 2024. However, before the fight was made official, Topuria had a fellow champion calling his name.
Bantamweight’s Sean O’Malley still dreams of having a champion vs. champion clash with Topuria. If the fight were to happen, Topuria believes it would be so easy that he could do it right after Holloway.
“When he pronounce those kind of things like, ‘If I win,’ it’s because he’s not very confident about himself,” Topuria told MMA Junkie. “First of all, he has a very tough match up ahead. If he does it, why not? Why not? I would love to have that fight. It’s like, thank you, God. For everyone, it’s going to be so huge. Like, ‘Ilia is fighting Max or he’s fighting Sean O’Malley.’ But in reality, I know that they both suck. I can do with them whatever I want to do. I can do it with both of them. I can beat them both in the same night. No problem.”
Topuria, 27, has already had an impressive run, going 15-0. No win has been more amazing than his most recent win to win the title when he knocked out reigning 145-pound kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski, in round two (watch highlights).
On his path to the title, Topuria has fought in the Lightweight division but never planned to make that division’s crown his goal. If the opportunity one day presents itself, that is an admitted option.
“To be honest, I could do it after the Volkanovski fight, but I decided to keep fighting in 145 and to defend my belt,” Topuria said. “Whenever it comes, I will be ready. After this one, after the fight with Max Holloway once I knock him out, maybe the UFC will call me and tell me that they want me to move up to 155, and I will be very happy with that decision. If not, I will keep defending my belt, keep doing my job. If anyone wants to test himself, I will be there. In 145, 155, 170 … I don’t care. I’m a fighter, and I’m the best fighter in the world. I’m not the average level of fighter.
“I respect Makhachev,” he continued. “I know what it takes to get inside that cage. I know all the sacrifices a person has to make to go inside that Octagon. I respect him, but there’s levels. I feel I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts. I bring a fight style that no one has, and no one had. I’m just improving the game. I’m just the new face of the game. It’s just a matter of time until everyone will realize this.”