Adios, Featherweight.
It has been 44 days since Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Featherweight Ilia Topuria brutally slept “Baddest Motherf—ker” Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi at UFC 308 (watch highlights), and after the battle, it appeared like Topuria already had his subsequent battle lined up: a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski.
Properly, it appears plans have drastically modified as a result of at the moment (Mon., Dec. 9, 2024), Topuria appeared on the podcast El Partidazo de Cadena Cope and revealed his time at Featherweight is over.
“El Matador” was blatantly requested if his final battle towards Holloway was his final at Featherweight, and he stated, “Sure, for certain. Undoubtedly sure.”
It is stunning that Topuria already needs to depart Featherweight, however he needs to develop into a two-division champion.
“We have to speak about it and check out my future, however for me, it’s totally clear how I wish to do it,” Topuria stated. “I would like to maneuver as much as the subsequent weight class, and since Islam [Makhachev] is the champion preventing in January, and he will not be prepared for April or Could, I would prefer to battle towards the No. 1 contender proper now, who’s Charles Oliveira… I am 27; I hope to be out by 30.”
Whereas Topuria is on a spectacular run proper now, together with knocking out Volkanovski (watch right here) and Holloway back-to-back, there are nonetheless high-level fighters within the division that he can compete towards, like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev. Additionally, Makhachev has no real interest in preventing the Spanish knockout artist.
Being a UFC two-division champion is superb for the historical past books, however completely cleansing out a division holds extra weight for legacy. Nevertheless, Conor McGregor was his idol, so it is smart.
