UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria sees two viable options for his next fight.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is coming off a stunning knockout of Max Holloway to retain his belt at UFC 308 in October. After becoming the first to finish Holloway with strikes, Topuria welcomed a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), who he knocked out to become champion at UFC 298.
Topuria has goals of becoming a two-division champion and has been vocal about his desire to move up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC). For now, however, he’s staying put to see what the UFC offers.
“This is something that I want to do, the UFC knows that,” Topuria told Fox Sports Australia on fighting Makhachev. “But at the end of the day, this is something that the UFC decide. They know how to run the business. They have a lot of experience. So, if they tell me they want me to keep defending the belt in the 145-pound division, maybe I will do that. But if they let me go up to 155, I will do that also and be very glad.”
If Topuria remains at featherweight, he only sees one deserving challenger.
“Yeah, if I stay in 145 no one else deserves the fight more than him,” Topuria said of Volkanovski. “I have to give him the rematch because he deserves that. It’s not something that I decide. He owns his shot. So, if I stay at 145, I will do that. I don’t want to do that again because I like Volk, and I know what’s going to happen if we face each other again.
“Of course, it’s the same thing. I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts. I bring a different type of game that he’s used to. So, I know what’s going to happen. Maybe the next time, instead of knocking him out, I will submit him. Maybe I’m going to change that to a different type of clip.”
If it was up to Topuria, his No. 1 option would be a champion-vs-champion affair with Makhachev.
“Me personally, what I want to do is move up to 155 because I know by fact that I can become a two-weight world champion,” Topuria said. “Islam, he’s a great fighter, he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound for the people. For me, it’s me. I’m the best fighter in the world so, I know I can do with him whatever I want to do because I know I’m much better than him.”
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