Ilia Topuria has finally caught a break. When ‘El Matador’ announced his move up to lightweight, almost everyone had one thing in mind. A generational high-stakes superfight with the 155lbs champ Islam Makhachev. But alas, the Dagestani champ had expressed his reservations about granting a shot to the 145lbs juggernaut right away. The Makhachkala native first wants the soon-to-be-former featherweight champion to prove himself by beating another top-ranked lightweight guy. So it all went to that who will Topuria fight next to earn a lightweight title shot. The usual top-ranked suspects’ names were floated, including former kingpin Charles Oliveira.
However, UFC analyst Chael Sonnen poured cold water on the prospect of Oliveira-Topuria, claiming he had inside info from ‘Do Bronx’s camp. “[According to Oliveira’s manager Diego Lima], no, Charles Oliveira will not, he will not fight Ilia Topuria… In fact, Charles sees it that if Ilia wants to fight Charles, Charles is making a demand that he’s got two choices- first, he fight Max Holloway for the BMF belt and he wins… Or Ilia fights and defeats Islam. If he fights and defeats Islam,” ‘Uncle Chael’ said in a video on his YouTube channel in late February.
So it seemed that ‘Do Bronx’ will not fight Topuria next. Turns out that is actually not the case! In fact, the Brazilian himself has come out and said that he would fight the Spanish-Georgian next if that is indeed what Dana White and Co. want him to do.
“Whoever I get told to fight, I’m going to fight. I have nothing but respect for Ilia Topuria, but this is lightweight. It’s the most difficult division you have ever seen and I have power in my hands. I believe in my Jiu-Jitsu, but I believe that I could knock Ilia Topuria out,” the Brazilian former champ told ‘Oddspedia’ in a recent interview.
Indeed, ‘Do Bronx’ will definitely be a problem for Topuria. ‘El Matador’ has mostly fought featherweights until now. The difference in size and strength between featherweights and lightweights would be a challenge for the Spanish-Georgian superstar.
Moreover, ‘Do Bronx’ pointed is one of the best grapplers in UFC history with an offensive BJJ game that is as lethal as it is entertaining. As the Brazilian pointed out, what will make matters worse for ‘El Matador’ is his heavy hands. This is something Topuria isn’t used to. But the question still remains. Will we actually see Oliveira-Topuria unfolding next? If not, then what are the other possibilities?
If not Charles Oliveira, who else could Ilia Topuria fight next?
If there was a hypothetical shortlist of people who could fight Ilia Topuria at lightweight, it would realistically have three names. One, of course, is #2 ranked Oliveira, with the other two being #3 Justin Gaethje, and #1 Arman Tsarukyan. All three of these men have a claim to a title shot, and since ‘El Matador’ wants to fight for the title next, it is likely one of these three will be next for him. But can we narrow down this list further? Well, yes. ‘Do Bronx’ and Tsarukyan may have the best claim for a title shot at the moment, but Islam Makhachev doesn’t want to fight him.
“Well, I like this idea because I haven’t fought Justin yet, and if you look at the others on the list, Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, I’ve already fought them and preparing for the same opponent is not such a big motivation. If Gaethje shows himself well in the next fight, we can meet,” Makhachev told Russian outlet ‘Ushtayaka’.
And guess what, Gaethje did ‘show himself well in the next fight’. ‘The Highlight’, of course, beat Rafael Fiziev via a well-deserved unanimous decision in their UFC 313 main card clash, putting to rest any concerns about the effects of the UFC 300 buzzer-beater knockout by Max Holloway.
So, it seems like Gaethje is likely next for Islam Makhachev. This leaves Oliveira and Tsarukyan as the only two contenders to face Topuria next. What do you think about Charles Oliveira’s comments about a possible Ilia Topuria clash?
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