A present UFC titleholder doesn’t need to see Ilia Topuria’s transfer to light-weight develop into a waste.
Topuria not too long ago vacated the UFC Featherweight Championship to maneuver as much as the 155-pound division. “La Leyenda” is searching for a shot at Islam Makhachev for the UFC light-weight title. Whereas the potential battle could be profitable, Makhachev’s workforce argues that Topuria ought to have a No. 1 contender battle first.
UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili feels that if Topuria’s subsequent battle isn’t for the 155-pound gold, then it might be an enormous mistake.
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Merab Thinks Makhachev vs. Topuria Ought to Be Subsequent
Dvalishvili latest appeared on the “Struggle Again” podcast hosted by Jake Shields. Throughout his look, the 135-pound ruler mentioned that Makhachev vs. Topuria is clearly the most important battle to make at light-weight (through MMAJunkie).
“He’s saying he’s not a light-weight, he’s featherweight and he’s champion,” Dvalishvili mentioned. “I do know Islam is saying, ‘Oh, I don’t need to battle small guys,’ however Ilia is f*cking the most important identify.”
Dvalishvili doesn’t like the thought of Topuria preventing somebody like Charles Oliveira earlier than competing for the 155-pound title.
“He already beat Arman,” Dvalishvili mentioned of Makhachev. “He beat Oliveira, he beat (Poirier). It’s not going to be a straightforward battle for Ilia, however that’s the battle to – Ilia’s my good friend, I like him, nevertheless it’s going to be silly if he fights Oliveira, if he loses towards Oliveira. That is the tremendous battle.”
Topuria’s most up-to-date battle occurred in the principle occasion of UFC 308 again in Oct. 2024. He knocked out Max Holloway to efficiently retain the UFC Featherweight Championship. It was Topuria’s first and solely 145-pound title protection.
What UFC officers in the end resolve to do with Topuria and Makhachev subsequent will likely be a narrative to maintain tabs on within the coming days and weeks.
