Ilia Topuria’s bold challenge: Will he get his wish for a title shot?
The UFC lightweight division is heating up with intense rivalries and intriguing matchups. Ilia Topuria, the reigning lightweight champion, has his eyes set on a specific path to greatness. His primary target is none other than the welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev, a fight that would undoubtedly be a blockbuster event.
But here’s where it gets interesting. If the highly anticipated Makhachev matchup doesn’t materialize, Topuria has a backup plan that involves settling a score with a familiar name: Paddy Pimblett. Topuria’s preference for this fight is clear, but it’s not without controversy.
“I’m aiming for Paddy,” Topuria revealed in a recent interview. “If the UFC doesn’t grant me the opportunity to challenge Makhachev at welterweight, I’d love to face Paddy. Although my dream fight is against Islam, moving up to a third weight class adds an exciting twist. But we’ll see; there might be one more fight before that.”
Topuria’s recent success has been nothing short of remarkable. He claimed the featherweight title by defeating Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and then shocked the world by stopping Max Holloway at UFC 308, becoming the first to do so via strikes. After vacating the featherweight belt, he set his sights on the lightweight division, knocking out Charles Oliveira to become the champion.
With the UFC potentially hesitant to allow Topuria to move up to welterweight, he proposes an innovative solution: a new championship belt. “Perhaps the UFC will introduce a pound-for-pound title at a catchweight,” he suggested. “I’d be more than willing to compete for that belt. There are numerous possibilities, and we’ll see what the future holds.”
And this is where the debate begins. Should Topuria be allowed to create a new championship category just to face Makhachev? Or is his desire to fight Pimblett a worthy alternative? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s discuss the potential outcomes of these exciting matchups!