Tag: ilia topuria

‘Easy Money’ Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%’

'Easy Money' Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%'Renato Moicano likes his chances against Ilia Topuria. After putting together a four-fight win streak, ‘Money’ will face his…

'Easy Money' Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%'

Renato Moicano likes his chances against Ilia Topuria.

After putting together a four-fight win streak, ‘Money’ will face his toughest test yet when he meets Beneil Dariush at UFC 311 on January 18. A victory for Moicano would inch him a little further up the lightweight rankings as he hopes to one day vie for the division’s top prize.

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Another fighter who has lightweight gold in his sights is Ilia Topuria. The reigning featherweight champion recently claimed that he was “definitely” done fighting at 145 and was already plotting a move up for a clash with reigning lightweight king Islam Makhachev or ex-champion Charles Oliveira.

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Renato Moicano wants to welcome topuria to 155

Chances are, Topuria’s move away from the featherweight division is all talk, at least for now. But, if ‘El Matador’ is serious about conquering another division, Moicano would love the chance to welcome Topuria to lightweight.

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“I think he would knock out a lot of people,” Moicano said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “He is very good. I think he is very good, but in my defense, I think I would finish him because I’m not a striker; I’m a grappler. If I get his back, I can finish him 100%. But if you try to strike against him, he is a solid striker. The fight against Max Holloway was just incredible.

“The guy is good. But, to be honest, too, I think he’s very small for the division. I don’t know; I think he should stay at 145. Maybe that’s the move. You win, and you say, Hey Ilia, you want to come up? Let me welcome you to 155. Easy money. I’m gonna show you 155 money.”

‘Easy Money’ Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%’

'Easy Money' Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%'Renato Moicano likes his chances against Ilia Topuria. After putting together a four-fight win streak, ‘Money’ will face his…

'Easy Money' Renato Moicano Challenges Ilia Topuria: ‘I Would Finish Him, 100%'

Renato Moicano likes his chances against Ilia Topuria.

After putting together a four-fight win streak, ‘Money’ will face his toughest test yet when he meets Beneil Dariush at UFC 311 on January 18. A victory for Moicano would inch him a little further up the lightweight rankings as he hopes to one day vie for the division’s top prize.

yyypldatbn5e1

Another fighter who has lightweight gold in his sights is Ilia Topuria. The reigning featherweight champion recently claimed that he was “definitely” done fighting at 145 and was already plotting a move up for a clash with reigning lightweight king Islam Makhachev or ex-champion Charles Oliveira.

gettyimages 2180753336 612x612 1

Renato Moicano wants to welcome topuria to 155

Chances are, Topuria’s move away from the featherweight division is all talk, at least for now. But, if ‘El Matador’ is serious about conquering another division, Moicano would love the chance to welcome Topuria to lightweight.

gettyimages 2175347579 612x612 1

“I think he would knock out a lot of people,” Moicano said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “He is very good. I think he is very good, but in my defense, I think I would finish him because I’m not a striker; I’m a grappler. If I get his back, I can finish him 100%. But if you try to strike against him, he is a solid striker. The fight against Max Holloway was just incredible.

“The guy is good. But, to be honest, too, I think he’s very small for the division. I don’t know; I think he should stay at 145. Maybe that’s the move. You win, and you say, Hey Ilia, you want to come up? Let me welcome you to 155. Easy money. I’m gonna show you 155 money.”

Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria. Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC […]

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria.

Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC Fight Night card in London.

At the time, the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Since then, however, “El Matador” has moved clear of “The Baddy” when it comes to UFC status, dropping to 145 pounds and capturing the crowd. Knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 have left him a leading candidate for the Fighter of the Year accolade.

2025, however, could see a major career switch for Topuria, who recently outlined his plan to vacate the 145-pound gold and permanently return to lightweight.

And it didn’t take long for Pimblett to take notice…

“New blood at 155?” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.

The Scouser still has some places to make up on the 155-pound ladder to put himself in the conversation for a clash against Topuria.

With champion Islam Makhachev preoccupied dealing with the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan, “El Matador” has called for a title eliminator opposite the #2-ranked Charles Oliveira.

Pimblett, meanwhile, sits 11 places lower than “do Bronx” in the pecking order, with his most recent wins coming over Tony Ferguson and King Green.

Ilia Topuria Drops Bombshell On UFC Career: ‘Very Likely’ We’ve Seen My Last Featherweight Fight

It would appear that UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s reign might have been a one-and-done affair… Topuria enjoyed a standout 2024 inside the cage, with a title crowning via knockout at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski and successful defense by way of a violent finish against Max Holloway leaving him in a strong year within […]

It would appear that UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s reign might have been a one-and-done affair…

Topuria enjoyed a standout 2024 inside the cage, with a title crowning via knockout at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski and successful defense by way of a violent finish against Max Holloway leaving him in a strong year within Fighter of the Year discussions.

While the Spaniard has been getting plenty of plaudits since becoming the first man to sleep “Blessed” in Abu Dhabi this past October, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could await him in 2025.

From a rematch with Volkanovski to first-time showdowns with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev, the latter of whom staked his claim with a victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 this past weekend, Topuria doesn’t appear short on options.

According to the champ himself, however, those names aren’t enticing enough.

During a recent interview with Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Topuria dropped a bombshell on his UFC career, suggesting that he’s likely competed at featherweight for the final time and will vacate the belt in order to move up to lightweight.

“There were talks of Miami, but I’m not sure because there are still some pending conversations,” Topuria said. “We need to talk about it and take a look at my future. For me, it is very clear how I want to do it. I’d like to move up to the next weight class.

With a superfight against 155-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev not on the table right now as the Dagestani gears up to meet the challenge of Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles next month, Topuria pitched a title eliminator with Charles Oliveira instead.

“Since Islam is the champion fighting in January and won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight the number one contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira,” Topuria stated. “I’d like to move up a weight class. … Maybe there’s a change coming. … (It’s) very likely (you’ve seen my last fight at featherweight).”

Oliveira believes he secured a shot at returning to the lightweight throne when he once again got the better of Michael Chandler at the Madison Square Garden-held UFC 309 pay-per-view last month.

“Do Bronx” has outlined his intention to be present at the Intuit Dome when Makhachev and Tsarukyan collide, anticipating that his next opponent will be decided.

Topuria’s plans could throw a curveball into the mix, however. But it remains to be seen if his plan to shockingly end his featherweight stint will be supported by the promotion, especially with growing calls for “El Matador” to defend his gold in Spain next year.

Ilia Topuria ‘Definitely’ Done Fighting at 145, Plots Lightweight Clash Against Charles Oliveira

Ilia Topuria 'Definitely' Done Fighting at 145, Plots Lightweight Clash Against Charles OliveiraLess than 50 days removed from his first featherweight title defense, Ilia Topuria is ready to move on. In…

Ilia Topuria 'Definitely' Done Fighting at 145, Plots Lightweight Clash Against Charles Oliveira

Less than 50 days removed from his first featherweight title defense, Ilia Topuria is ready to move on.

In October, ‘El Matador’ viciously KO’d the UFC’s baddest motherf*cker Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi and appeared to be on track for a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in 2025. However, that may no longer be the case after Topuria said in no uncertain terms that he’s officially done competing in the weight class.

“Yes, for sure. Definitely yes,” Topuria told the El Partidazo de Cadena Cope podcast when asked if the Holloway fight was his last time competing at 145.

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It’s a little surprising to hear that Topuria is already plotting an exit from the weight class with fresh matchups against top-five-ranked contenders like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev available.

Instead, ‘El Matador’ appears to have his sights set on becoming a two-division champion before walking away from the organization in a few short years.

“We need to talk about it and take a look at my future, but for me, it’s very clear how I want to do it,” Topuria said. “I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam [Makhachev] is the champion fighting in January, and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira… I’m 27; I hope to be out by 30.”

Islam Makhachev not interested in a fight with ilia topuria

Unfortunately for Ilia Topuria, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ doesn’t seem too interested in fighting him.

“We’ll fight if we have to,” Makhachev told MatchTV. “In terms of my fighting career, I’m not interested in fighting Topuria at all. He’s in a different weight class. I’ll beat him, and what will that do for me? I won’t win another belt. Everyone will once again say that I beat a Featherweight. That’s it. But, if people really want to see him lose, then we can do it.”

After securing a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier in June, Makahachev will be back in action on January 18 to defend his lightweight title against the division’s No. 1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan.

The two previously met in April 2019 when Tsarukyan was making his UFC debut. Makhachev won that bout via unanimous decision in the middle of what has turned out to be a 14-fight win streak dating back to his third appearance with the promotion nearly a decade ago.

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Islam Makhachev On Potentially Fighting Ilia Topuria: ‘Everybody Will Once Again Say I Beat A Featherweight’

Following the year that Ilia Topuria has had, some fans are coming around to the idea of seeing him move up a weight class in the future. Many are growing tired of the want for every fighter to become a two-division champion rather than achieving total dominance in their own weight class and this was […]

Following the year that Ilia Topuria has had, some fans are coming around to the idea of seeing him move up a weight class in the future. Many are growing tired of the want for every fighter to become a two-division champion rather than achieving total dominance in their own weight class and this was the case with “El Matador” at first.

However, after he did exactly what he said he would do and stopped Max Holloway at UFC 308, it’s becoming hard to deny him what he wants. With his back-to-back wins over “Blessed” and Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria has proved that he’s one of the best in the world right now.

It just so happens that the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC is the champion in the weight class above him. In a recent interview via matchtv, lightweight king Islam Makhachev gave his thoughts on Topuria calling him out.

“We’ll have to talk. It will happen 100 percent. He’s been talking about me non stop, he probably wants to let us know something but I have no idea what. Well, we will talk and find out… We will fight if we have to.”

Despite saying that they can make the fight happen if it’s called for, Makhachev went on to say that he isn’t particularly excited about the idea. The 155-pound champion had his own plans to move up a weight class until his training partner Belal Muhammad became the welterweight champion in July.

Having defeated Volkanovski twice whilst “The Great” was the featherweight champion, it makes sense why he wouldn’t want to fight another titleholder from the division below just yet.

“In terms of my fighting career, I have no interest in fighting Ilia Topuria. He represents another weight class so what if we fight and I beat him, what’s there for me? I won’t win another belt and everybody will once again say that I beat a featherweight and that’s it. But, if people really want to see him lose, well, we can do it.”