Ilia Topuria is aware of he has an enormous battle forward of him at UFC 317, but when he turns into a two-division champion, and Islam Makhachev accomplishes the identical later this yr, Topuria says he’ll do the whole lot he can for a shot at historical past.
“If Islam turns into the welterweight world champion, for positive I’m going to push for that shot additionally,” Topuria stated throughout a pre-fight press convention in Las Vegas (h/t The Mac Life).
Topuria vacated the featherweight belt for a transfer to light-weight, and a hope of going through Makhachev for the 155-pound belt. As a substitute, he faces former champ Charles Oliveira in the principle occasion of the UFC’s annual Worldwide Combat Week card.
Makhachev had the identical objective in thoughts, and vacated his belt for a transfer as much as 170, the place he’ll problem new champ Jack Della Maddalena later this yr.
Ought to each guys accomplish their targets, Topuria believes the battle can nonetheless occur with Makhachev at both weight class.
“We’ll see how he does within the welterweight division,” Topuria stated. “If he wins the title, and I win the title within the light-weight division, possibly I transfer up or he comes all the way down to the light-weight division and we now have the battle that everybody desires to see.”
Oliveira will get to battle for UFC gold for the primary time since a submission loss to Makhachev for the vacant belt at UFC 280 in October 2022. “Du Bronx” grew to become champ with a stoppage win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262, adopted by a end of Dustin Poirier in his first title protection at UFC 269. Oliveira went on to submit Justin Gaethje in his subsequent battle at UFC 274, however was stripped of the title after lacking weight for the bout.
After not too long ago dominating Chandler of their second matchup at UFC 309 this previous November, Oliveira will get his probability to develop into champ for a second time. For Topuria, his first selection was Makhachev, however he’ll take the chance he has in entrance of him to make a press release.
“To be sincere, I wished to face him as a result of he was the man who was dominating everybody in that weight division,” Topuria defined. “However on the finish of the day, I can’t management what they do. The one factor I can management is what I do, so I wished to maneuver up, I wished to battle for a title, and that is what I’m doing. He determined to maneuver up additionally, so I can’t do anything, and go and battle whoever desires to battle me. …
“[He moved up] as a result of he has his personal targets, is what I believe.”
