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Renato Moicano Explains Why Size Won’t Affect Ilia Topuria Finding Success At Lightweight

UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano has little doubt that featherweight champion Ilia Topuria would thrive up at 155 pounds. While Topuria has competed as a lightweight in his career, he’s gained major prominence down at 145 pounds, where he occupies the throne on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. 2024 marked his best year to date, […]

UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano has little doubt that featherweight champion Ilia Topuria would thrive up at 155 pounds.

While Topuria has competed as a lightweight in his career, he’s gained major prominence down at 145 pounds, where he occupies the throne on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

2024 marked his best year to date, as the Spaniard captured the belt with a violent knockout of Alexander Volkanovski before repeating the feat at the expense of Max Holloway in his October defense — achievements that saw Topuria crowned MMA News’ Fighter of the Year.

But there’s talk of “El Matador’s” triumph over “Blessed” marking his last dance at 145 pounds after the champ implied that a permanent lightweight move could be in his immediate future during a radio appearance in Spain.

Should that come to fruition in 2025, one rising name at 155 pounds in Renato Moicano dismissed suggestions that a smaller frame could hamper Topuria’s pursuit of two-division glory during an interview with MMA Fighting.

“I think Ilia Topuria is very good…and he is smaller, like I say, but if he can defend the takedowns — and I know he has a good ground game — so if he can defend the takedowns, I think he could knock a lot of people out (at) 155 (pounds).

“He fought at (lightweight), he fought Jai Herbert. I fought Jai Herbert, I know Jai Herbert is very good and very tall, taller than me,” Moicano continued. “Even though Jai Herbert kicked him in the head, almost knocked him out, he (Topuria) survived. He took that kick and then he (destroyed) Jai Herbert. … So I don’t think size and frame would be a problem.”

While Topuria ponders his divisional future, Moicano is gearing up for his opportunity to further stake his claim for a first shot at lightweight gold in the UFC.

Fresh off an impressive 3-0 run in 2024, the Brazilian will kick off his campaign for the new year next weekend inside Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, where a clash with perennial contender Beneil Dariush awaits.

Movsar Evloev: Weight Change Won’t Stop Me ‘Going After’ Ilia Topuria

UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev won’t give up in his pursuit of Ilia Topuria, even if it means following him to other divisions. Evloev, who currently occupies the #4 spot in the 145-pound rankings, staked his claim for the next shot at Topuria’s gold with two important victories in 2024. The undefeated Russian outpointed perennial […]

UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev won’t give up in his pursuit of Ilia Topuria, even if it means following him to other divisions.

Evloev, who currently occupies the #4 spot in the 145-pound rankings, staked his claim for the next shot at Topuria’s gold with two important victories in 2024.

The undefeated Russian outpointed perennial contender Arnold Allen and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling to extend his perfect professional and UFC records to 19-0 and 9-0, respectively.

With that, Evloev has entered the new year with his sights firmly set on “El Matador,” whom he was slated to face back in 2022 before a cancellation.

Unfortunately for the charging 30-year-old, though, Topuria may have different plans. The champ recently caused a stir by revealing plans to move up to the lightweight division, even suggesting his title defense opposite Max Holloway last October may have marked his final time competing at 145 pounds.

Should that be the case, Evloev has insisted that the door will remain open for him and Topuria to settle their differences.

“To be honest, it’s not easy to even understand what’s going on,” Evloev told MMA Fighting regarding his next fight. “Because Max [Holloway] said he will not come back to featherweight again. So Ilia’s talking that he’s moving up, also, especially after my fight. I don’t know what’s going on. For me, it doesn’t matter who will be my next opponent.

“Even if the champion moves up, he will leave the title. I will get the title and then I will follow him. Lightweight is not too far for me,” Evloev continued. “Even if he moves up, I will take the belt first because this is my first goal. So then I will go after him, even if he goes to middleweight. It doesn’t matter. He’s not a big guy. I don’t need to cut the weight to beat this guy. I need his head on my list.”

Despite his comments and talk of potentially dropping the featherweight belt to avoid more rough weight cuts in the division, Topuria attempted to clarify things last month, insisting he won’t leave the belt vacant.

‘Where Is Topuria?’ – Fans Debate Islam Makhachev Being Heavy Favorite To Finish 2025 As UFC LW Champion

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and betting lines for a number of divisions have stirred debate. As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings doesn’t, however, have the lightweight class as one in which a new kingpin will likely […]

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and betting lines for a number of divisions have stirred debate.

As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings doesn’t, however, have the lightweight class as one in which a new kingpin will likely be crowned.

Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with Islam Makhachev set as the favorite to be occupying the 155-pound throne at the end of 2025.

For that to be the case, the Dagestani will first need to get past the second favorite on the list, Arman Tsarukyan, in their headlining rematch at UFC 311 in Los Angeles next weekend.

The odds have Tsarukyan at +500 to finish 2025 as the UFC lightweight titleholder, being pipped to the post by Makhachev’s -120 line.

That, in addition to the figures beside names like Charles Oliveira, Renato Moicano, and Dan Hooker, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

One of the biggest talking points came via an absent name from the list — UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria, who has expressed interest in returning to 155 pounds this year.

Where is Topuria Illia ?

— Nobody-GOAT (@nobody_goat_mma) January 5, 2025

Dan hooker https://t.co/TncWFFB8wR pic.twitter.com/PFnBe5dMS7

— Nate B. Johnson MD. (@nateistheman) January 5, 2025

Might as well sprinkle a little on Charles

— Chief Of Combat (@chiefofcombat) January 5, 2025

Charles at +600 is wild

— Max | Ecom Email Marketing (@Max_Alexxander) January 6, 2025

Unless he gets caught by someone or moves up, which I think would be a downgrade in all honesty, I don’t see the title changing hands, Islam has been incredible dominant, and nobody is really on his level at the moment

— Lax (@designsbylax) January 6, 2025

Those Arman and Moicano odds seem kinda crazy

— Real World (@RealWorldSport) January 5, 2025

When Ilia Topuria Scolded Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousins for Being Super Cheaters on Steroids

In a Spanish-language interview, Ilia Topuria showed tremendous respect to the former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov but the featherweight…

In a Spanish-language interview, Ilia Topuria showed tremendous respect to the former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov but the featherweight king had harsh words for his cousins and some teammates.

Ilia Topuria Scolds Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousins for Being on Steroids

The Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria had an incredible 2024. He stopped two top-ranked pound-for-pound fighters, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, both by knockout. With the UFC featherweight crown in-tact, he may be looking up a division to challenge the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a student of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Dagestan’s Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record and a UFC lightweight champion leaving behind an incredible legacy. His team and cousins have picked up multiple titles across MMA including the UFC, Bellator, and elsewhere.

But the Spanish-Georgian athlete had some harsh words for the Nurmagomedov family and team while expressing tremendous respect for Nurmagomedov himself. Ilia Topuria explained:

“Look, one thing I respect about Khabib Nurmagomedov is the guy is really super respectful. He never says anything about anybody. People talk a lot. He never says anything about anybody. I’ve mentioned Islam Makhachev, and all the cousins come out. They have never knocked anyone out, they get caught using steroids, they’re super cheaters, and suddenly they jump.

“The only thing it tells me is that they have a damaged nervous system from taking so many steroids. Because that’s the first thing that gets damaged. Threatening a fighter with ‘When we see each other I’m going to hit you.’ It’s like, man, I dedicate my life to fighting, let them be a little more creative. I don’t know what to say. Their best is Islam Makhachev. “

Ex-UFC King Snubs Alex Pereira, Picks Ilia Topuria as Top Fighter in 2024 With His Stunning Featherweight Takeover

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion. While ‘Poatan’…

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion.

While ‘Poatan’ topped many of 2024’s best-of lists, including LowKick MMA’s own Fighter of the Year award, former middleweight king Robert Whittaker thinks there was another fighter who outperformed the Brazilian boogeyman over the last 12 months.

“My fight of the year—and I’ve mentioned this on a Unibet video that I did recently as well—is Ilia Topuria,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade podcast. “I think, not only… yeah, I think the work that he has put in this year, the names that he has defeated in his division, like Alex Volkanovski—probably one of the best featherweights ever—and Max Holloway, one of the best featherweights ever again.

“Two guys that stand out to me in that division, so far ahead of the rest of the division. I mean, the gap was massive. It’s like, when we saw Volk beat Max, and then Max didn’t reclaim that title, I—and a lot of other people—thought, “Who beats him?” Because then Max went back to the pool and just started destroying people. You saw how big that gap difference was between Max and the rest of the division, which means, how good is Volk?

“And then Topuria comes in and finishes both of them.”

Who’s 2024 was better? Alex Pereira or Ilia Topuria?

For most people, it was a close call between Pereira and Topuria. ‘Poatan’ successfully defended his light heavyweight world title three times throughout the year, scoring highlight-reel knockouts against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree.

Meanwhile, ‘El Matador’ changed the landscape of the featherweight division, starting with his stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He followed that up with a history-making win over division staple Max Holloway, becoming the first fighter to KO ‘Blessed’ in his mixed martial arts career.

Beating two of the absolute best 145’ers of all time in back-to-back fights was enough for many, including Whittaker, to give Topuria the Fighter of the Year honors.

Do you agree with ‘The Reaper,’ or were Pereira’s trio of title defenses more impressive than what Topuria accomplished?