UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev‘s team does not think Ilia Topuria deserves a title shot. Why? Well, as Michael Bisping pointed out on his YouTube show, “The coach of Islam Makhachev, he doesn’t think that Topuria deserves a shot, he said, without fighting anybody at 155 because Islam already gave a chance to people like that. He’s talking about Volkanovski, right?”
And not just coach Javier Mendez, even Khabib Nurmagomedov is against this idea, as ‘The Count’ hastened to add. “So Khabib Nurmagomedov came out and he said that he doesn’t think that Topuria deserves the chance, not without proving himself first at 155– talking about Volkanovski,” the UFC commentator told fans on his YouTube channel.
Indeed, two of Makhachev’s four title defenses have come against Alexander Volkanovski, the then featherweight champ, who was also the pound-for-pound #1 fighter going into their first clash. So isn’t it reasonable for the champ and his team to refuse a Topuria fight next? Well, the former middleweight champ doesn’t think so, and for a very good reason.
“However this is a different scenario. Topuria has moved up, okay. He’s abandoned 145, he’s up to 155 and I think he deserves a title fight, simple as that,” Bisping added.
If Topuria was still the featherweight champ and wanted to fight Makhachev for the lightweight crown, then yeah, Makhachev’s team would be justified in their hesitance. But now that the Spanish-Georgian is officially a lightweight, this argument doesn’t hold much water. Who else is there in the lightweight division that Makhachev can fight next?
#1 ranked Arman Tsarukyan is out of the title picture for now, according to Dana White. And except for Charles Oliveira (whom the Dagestani champ has already beaten), there is no one else who deserves a title shot. At least no one else who deserves a title shot more than Topuria. However, even if ‘El Matador’ gets his wish, one of the best MMA minds on the planet thinks that perhaps Topuria would rue the day he demanded to fight Makhachev.
Tim Welch thinks Islam Makhachev will make easy work of Ilia Topuria
The rumor mill has it that the UFC wants to make Topuria-Makhachev next. The hold-up at this moment seems to be on the Dagestani’s side. But if Makhachev does agree to fight Topuria, how will their fight go? Well, Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch feels not well at all for Topuria. While the coach did point out that Topuria has a “puncher’s chance”, given ‘El Matador’s immense, one-punch knockout power. But, “as soon as Islam grabs a hold of him, I think it’s going to be over.”
But first, Makhachev will need to grab hold of Topuria, which Welch doesn’t think would be difficult at all. Why? “When you’re fighting someone who’s an orthodox boxer, it’s not that hard to time a shot to the legs,” he added. Topuria fans, of course, will be quick to point out that he has an excellent ground game and even has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to prove it.
Well, unlucky for them, the coach has factored them into his calculations and still thinks Makhachev will wipe the floor with Topuria. “And I’m sure Ilia Topuria is a really good grappler, a really good black belt. But I think Islam’s just going to be too strong, too powerful and he’s gonna submit Ilia Topuria,” Welch told viewers on his YouTube channel. What do you think about Michael Bisping’s take on an Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria clash?
The post “He’s Abandoned 145” – UFC Legend Rejects Team Khabib’s Demands From Ilia Topuria for Green Light on Islam Makhachev Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
