Ilia Topuria desires Islam Makhachev’s UFC title, and he thinks the light-weight champion’s crew is on the run.
In a latest interview, Makhachev’s shut buddy and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov said his case for why Arman Tsarukyan deserves the following shot at Makhachev and never Topuria. The gears look like in movement for the undefeated Topuria to battle Makhachev within the close to future after voluntarily vacating his featherweight belt to vary divisions, however nothing is official and Nurmagomedov wish to see Topuria win his subsequent battle at 155 kilos earlier than being given a championship alternative.
Topuria took to social media to reply to Nurmagomedov’s feedback, claiming Nurmagomedov is barely making an attempt to guard his fighter.
“Khabib is aware of I’m the one to take the belt from Islam,” Topuria wrote. “Solely purpose he doesn’t need Islam to battle me.”
Topuria actually has greater than sufficient momentum to leap proper right into a superfight with Makhachev. After a 6-0 begin to his UFC profession (that included one light-weight look in opposition to Jai Herbert the place he survived an early scare to come back again and win through second-round knockout), Topuria ascended to the highest of the light-weight division a knockout of champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 after which a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308.
With these wins over two legends of MMA, Topuria turned the primary fighter to defeat Volkanovski in a 145-pound bout and the primary fighter ever to complete Holloway through strikes.
He may soar to the entrance of the contender line with Tsarukyan lacking his likelihood to problem Makhachev for the title this previous January. Makhachev scored a win over Tsarukyan in Tsarukyan’s UFC debut 2019, however the Armenian standout went on a 9-1 tear to battle his strategy to rematch. Sadly for Tsarukyan, he sustained a again damage a day earlier than UFC 311 and was compelled to withdraw, a lot to the chagrin of UFC CEO Dana White, who stated Tsarukyan “should battle his method again” to a title shot.
As for Makhachev, his plans may hinge on the results of the UFC 315 predominant occasion between welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. On a number of events, Makhachev has expressed a need to go to welterweight and change into a two-division champion, however his shut relationship with Muhammad has prevented such a transfer.
Ought to Della Maddalena upset Muhammad, that would open the door for Makhachev to vary divisions and instantly change into the No. 1 contender at welterweight. That would depart Topuria to battle one other massive title at 155 kilos, presumably for a vacant or interim light-weight title.
